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KANGRA VALLEY RAILWAY TRACK A number of plans have been drawn up to convert this narrow gauge line into a broad gauge line, but all remained confined to the files
Palampur, July 8 The British had laid down this railway line in 1932, linking all important and religious towns of Kangra and parts of Mandi district. It is stated that the main objective to lay this track was to carry heavy equipments for the installation of Shanan Power House in Joginder Nagar. Unfortunately, the Indian Railways have not added even a single brick to this track in the past 73 years. A number of plans were drawn up to convert this narrow gauge line into a broad gauge line, but all remained confined to files. With a manifold increase in the population and the tourist traffic in the Kangra valley, the Railways has failed to come up to the expectations of the local people. Century-old engines and coaches are still plying on this track. Even the authorities could not introduce the regular first-class compartment here. At present, seven trains ply on this route daily covering 33 stations and passing through important places like Nurpur, Jawali, Jwalamukhi Road, Kangra, Nagrota Bagwan, Chamunda, Palampur, Baijnath and Jogindernagar, which are also major tourists attraction centres of the state. The condition of the rail track between Pathankot and Jogindernagar has gone from bad to worse in the past 10 years, as the Railways authorities have no funds to repair the same. Several small and big bridges are in bad shape. The retaining walls on the tracks have developed major cracks. Wooden logs of the railway line have already lived its life but no efforts were ever made to replace the same, which could result in a tragedy anytime. The residential quarters and railway station buildings are also crying for repair. Besides, almost all 33 railway stations of the Kangra valley railway line lack basic facilities like drinking water, cleanliness and waiting rooms for passengers. Patti, Chauntra, Paror and Chamunda railway stations have no room for the passengers to sit. These stations also do not even have a temporary shed to save the passengers from unpredictable weather. Family quarters of railway employees are on the verge of collapse. No senior officer of the Railways bothers to visit the track. The Kangra valley attracts lakhs of tourists every year. If the rail services are improved and better amenities are provided to the passengers, tourist inflow would rise, which in turn would help in improving the economic condition of the state. It would not only make it convenient for the residents and tourists but also add to the revenue of the Railways.
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Industrial area or shanty town?
Baddi, July 8 Since a major part of the problem pertains to the scores of jhuggis, which have come up in every nook and corner of the industrial area, the BBNDA has made it mandatory for the landowners to seek permission before allowing such structures. The BBNDA on its part can now keep a check on the provision of sanitation before giving permission. With the industrial workforce swelling to more than a lakh, it has been observed that all river bodies have been forced to bear the brunt of unhygienic disposal of sewage. Since no facility is available for sanitation in the slums, the dwellers conveniently pollute the nearby areas. Scores of jhuggis that have crept up between various industrial units or adjacent to the water bodies are adding to the pollution. Not caring two hoots for the hygiene, the landowners are making an easy buck by renting out their land to the migrant labourers. What is indeed interesting is the fact that these slum dwellers have even procured unauthorised electricity connections and are openly indulging in power theft. Officials of the state electricity board had unearthed scores of such connections in the past fortnight in the area. While it is understood that such connections cannot run without the connivance of the field staff, they further
While the recent directions of the BBNDA would help curtail this trend to a certain
extent, the mandate to get all such labourers registered would further help check their illicit activities. Though with the growth of industries such problems are part of the burgeoning economy, it is essential to keep a check on their multiplication, lest the industrial area would be transformed into a shantytown.
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Drug peddling on the rise in Mandi, Kullu
Kullu, July 8 Rampant poverty among farmers, loopholes in the laws, absence of coordination among the police, revenue and forest departments and protection for poor farmers for growing opium and cannabis plants have emerged as major factors contributing to this rise. Besides, local residents are also to be blamed for not informing the police about drug peddlers. All these factors came to light at the seminar-cum-rally organised here on the occasion of the international day against drug abuse and illicit trafficking by the Gunjan Organisation for Community Development. Over 2,000 students from Dalhousie, members of several NGOs, chemists and schoolteachers participated in the rally. Adviser of the organisation O.P. Sharma, who has been engaged in several anti-drug campaigns in Kullu and Mandi districts since 2003, when he was superintendent, Narcotic Control Bureau (NCB), presented his study on drug situation in the state. The study was based on his field surveys in 3,553 villages in 592 panchayats in the drug-producing areas under illegal cultivation of the cannabis and poppy. Sharma said the production of poppy and cannabis was on the rise, despite the campaigns launched by the NCB, customs and the police departments in both districts. Recently, people in the areas like Ani-Banjar-Kataula-Balichowki, Tosh and Manikaran valleys have also started cultivation of poppy and cannabis, he observed. He said area under opium cultivation had increased from 2,000 bigha in 2007 to 3,000 bigha in 2008. The cannabis cultivation had increased to 12,000 bigha in 2008 as per field reports, he added. He observed that new vulnerable sections like school and college students, school dropouts, taxi drivers and other frustrated youth are being targeted by the drug peddlers. Even psychotropic substances are being smuggled into the state. Sharma observed that poverty among the local farmers had driven them to cultivate poppy and cannabis in order to make both ends meet. Even local politicians had been encouraging farmers to grow these banned crops. DIG (CID) A.N. Sharma, who was the chief guest on the occasion, said the police was not the only agency responsible for checking the menace. “We need public cooperation. Over 90 per cent witnesses in drug seizure turn hostile in courts,” he said. Tripta Thakur, a government schoolteacher from Kullu and Sandeep Kumar, a teacher from Guru Nanak Dev Public school, Dalhousie, agreed that drug abuse was a serious problem and they claimed that teachers had been giving awareness to the students about its consequences. Tripta added that uniform education policy was the need of the hour. “The government schools get poor, less meritorious students while good students are opting for private schools”, she added. In the question-answer session, chemists said they sold drugs on doctor’s prescription only. But certain NGOs charged that chemists did not abide by the rules. The police and the NCB officials suggested that the law of evidence remained the same since the British time and amendments were required as per present circumstances. Parents, meanwhile, blamed schools, saying the students had been picking up wrong habits from schools, as there was no proper monitoring. DSP vigilance Prem Chand suggested that opium and cannabis seeds should be brought under the preview of the NDPS Act. There was no lab available to measure the TNC content of charas, he said. The students said the police always choose soft targets and adopted a pick-and-choose policy while handling crime or drug cases. Poster and declamation contests were also held on the occasion for school students.
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Apple boom
Hamirpur, July 8 The first tree planted at Thanadhar (Kotgarh) in 1905 by an American missionary Satya Nand Stokes after bringing it from Philadelphia (USA) is not only bearing good variety of delicious apple but it also paved the way for the growth of more apple orchards in the region. Today, apple is grown in six districts in the state and area under apple cultivation has increased to 84,112 hectares. The apple variety from Himachal Pradesh is very popular throughout the country, which is why it is also known as the apple state of India. The apple grown in orchards at height in Kinnaur district and other places is very much in demand in the national and international markets. At present, several varieties of apple are grown and marketed that include starking delicious royal, red delicious, rich-a-red and golden etc. Few new varieties like red spur, golden spur, red chief, Oregon spur, star crimson, silver spur and early red have also being introduced. The apple production has increased manifold and 40 per cent of the state area has come under apple cultivation. While the state government have been providing technical input and infrastructural support to the apple growers, the credit goes to the hard working people of the state who have withstood several problems in apple growing like natural calamites, marketing problems or apple disease like scab etc. This sector has generated employment opportunities and contributed about Rs 987 crore in GDP of the state.
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Flouting norms of ecosystem
Dalhousie, July 8 Starting off at Lahar, on the main Pathankot-Chamba highway, it makes a horrendous sight with debris lying all over the hill slope downwards of the winding road. It seems that hardly any norms regarding proper disposal of muck or those of making retaining walls have been followed while constructing this road. Moreover, all this unsightly road construction is happening right on the way to Dalhousie-Chamba circuit from Pathankot, one of the prime tourist circuits in the state. Traffic often comes to a standstill at this point due to the falling debris and rock boulders. The road continues its story of destruction and callousness on the other side of the hill, not visible from the main road. A lot of debris, sometimes up to shoulder height has been dumped over the fields and grasslands on the hill slopes over the Tritha village. The recent rains have brought the debris down into the village and worse is expected in the coming months when the rainfall gets heavy. The villagers are keeping quiet for the fear of reprisal from those involved in the road construction and also as they feel indebted to the government for having constructed a road in their area. This incident is indicative of the callous attitude of the authorities, whose duties include watching the interests of the people and the ecology as the contractors build roads. It is indicative of the fact that the contractors and the authorities work with common interest while the norms of ecosystem are flouted and would go to any extent to stifle any voice of dissent on the insensitive manner of road construction. There is a fear that this road might trigger what is increasingly coming to be known as a cloudburst in the official parlance.
PWD Dalhousie division executive engineer M.S. Thakur, however, maintained that environment clearance had already been obtained for this road project from the Government of India under the Forest Conservation Act after the project was duly approved. So far as the muck disposal is concerned, the contactors executing the work had been strictly directed to dispose of muck at identified sites, he claimed, adding that the road was being constructed at a cost of about Rs 1.75 crore.
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Fashion designing comes of age at Hamirpur
Hamirpur, July 8 The students of the institute had put up different dresses for every occasion in this exhibition that they had designed and prepared during their courses
of study. These students would participate in the student’s annual fashion show wearing these dresses later.
From children’s dresses to designer Sarees, these budding fashion designers have tried their hands at casual dresses, party wears, upholstery and other household articles, besides preparing dresses using the waste material. The fine quality and attractive designs itself speaks for the talent among the young fashion designers in the INIFD. Anjula, a BSc second year student of the institute tells that they put all their skills to design best of the dresses and a fine design definitely gives us great inspiration.
Telling about various projects which were part of this exhibition, managing director of the institute Sat Pal Sharma said, “ Weaving, yarn craft, home finishing, kids garments, embroidery, denim, gents garments, sarees, party wear suits and executive dresses are part of the student’s projects”. Anupam Sipahya, a teacher of the INIFD told that preparing a design for any dress is a long and tedious process. They first teach them basic talents of fashion designing after which students prepare charts which are later converted into actual designs with the innovative skills of the designers. The excellently designed dresses on display in the exhibition definitely speak a lot about the fashion designing talent in a small town like
Hamirpur.
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Parents’ penury puts son’s life at stake
Nurpur, July 8 Rahul, son of Sanjay Kumar of Batnial village of Kherian gram panchayat here, also has a hole in his heart and his father, who is poor and enlisted in the Antodaya families list, is unable to bear the expenses of a heart surgery. According to Dr Ashutosh Joshi, a pediatrician at the civil hospital here, the disease of the infant was detected when he was only four months old and he was referred to the PGI, Chandigarh, in October last year. “The infant had been admitted several times to the civil hospital here in serious condition. But the surgery is the only option left to save his life,” he added. The parents of the infant, who have visited the hospital recently, lamented that they had difficulty in bearing the expenses not only of heart surgery but also in purchasing medicines for the emergency medication of Rahul. The father of the infant revealed that the poverty was the major hindrance in the treatment of his son, who had been battling for his life for the past one year. He appealed to Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal and NGOs to extend succour for saving Rahul’s life. Kuldeesh Pathania, former pradhan of Kherian, who was accompanying the hapless family to the civil hospital, has also appealed to the state government and philanthropists to come forward to save the child’s life.
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shimla diary
Shimla, July 8 Even though Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal in his address said the important talks in connection with the drawing of the McMohan line were held in a building in the US Club area, there have been conflicting versions. The organisers have been claiming that the talks were held at Winterfield. Surprisingly, when there is enough proof and even photographs of all important events, there is no such documentary evidence that can indicate the venue for the holding of these talks.
SP strikes peace deal
The state government and the striking PTA teachers were on a path of collision, with the situation aggravating till help came from the most unexpected quarter. With both the government, as well as, the PTA teachers being adamant on their stands, there seemed to be no solution to the problem when suddenly the matter was resolved within no time. It was a happy ending with education minister I.D. Dhiman offering juice to the smiling teachers, who were sitting on chain hunger strike near secretariat. It was the initiative by Shimla SP R.M. Sharma that helped settle things with both sides coming together to end the stalemate. It was at the meeting convened to discuss the law and order situation and arrangements in view of the call given by the PTA teachers for a state-level rally in Shimla that the police officer suggested that instead of aggravating the situation by arresting them the sensible approach was to hold talks with them. He got down to resolving the issue. Both parties were more than happy to resolve the problem, as it was getting difficult for the teachers to sustain their agitation while for the government it was getting awkward as over 200 schools in the state were on the verge of closure.
Corporate tussle
The war between two companies, Reliance Energy and Brakel Corporation, over allotment of two power projects in Kinnuar seems to be getting messier with the media being used for putting across their viewpoint. The animosity between the two has got so messy that they are readily supplying secret government documents and details of vigilance inquiries to put across their claim in the media. Never before has the corporate sector in state tried to use the media to its advantage.
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vignettes Tailpiece When in Delhi, a month and a half old
Madan, was picked by a monkey who carried him to the roof of the house. Madan’s aunt Shanti Devi got alarmed and prayed to the monkey but no, he would not release the child. It was an orange that ultimately did the trick. He got down, placed the child, not a scratch on him and ran away with the orange.
I knew Master Mohan, clad in black achkan, churidar and a turban, vocalist and an ace violinist, the elder brother of Master Madan. I repent now that I never talked to him about ‘sangeet samrat’ Madan, the child prodigy, whose ‘soul lives forever’ in the two ghazals of Saghar Nizami – “Yun na reh reh ke hamein tarsaiye” and “Hairat se tak raha hai jahan-e-wafa mujhe”, set to music by Amarnath, who was the brother of music directors Husanlal-Bhagatram. Sajjad Sarwar Niazi’s son claimed that it was his father who had recorded the ghazals at All-India Radio in the 1940s when Z.A. Bukhari was the station director in Delhi.
Master Madan had regularly been singing for the AIR but the other songs went unrecorded. The AIR, Lahore (started in 1936), boasts of the great names of Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, Dalip Chander Vedi, Dina Qawaal, Mubarak Ali Fateh Ali and of the nine-year-old Master Madan as its singers in classical Indian music. Madan was born on December 28, 1927, at Khankhana village in Jalandhar to Amar Singh and Puran Devi. Madan, perhaps, grew in the cradle of classical singing and that is why when he sang “Vandan hai shaarda naman karun” in “raag mishrit kafi”, at Dharampur Sanitarium (Solan), for the first time on a public stage, the audience was spellbound. Amar Singh was in service of the British government that used to move to Shimla during summers, so he lived in a house called New Butail Building in Lower Bazaar (see photograph). Kundan Lal Sehgal, who was then working in Remington Rand in Shimla, heard of the fame and singing abilities of the little child and started visiting their house for soirees and this friendship continued even after Sehgal left for New Theatres, Kolkata, in 1931. Sanatan Dharm School was the nearest where the family of Amar Singh lived, so Madan studied there for sometime and matriculated from Ramjas, Delhi. Master Madan was a sober and pious child. His music gurus were none other than his father and mother, both music lovers. He was a disciple of Sant Kaleraanvaale who, it is said, had foretold of Madan’s premature death. Master Madan, once in a gathering in honour of the Sant, sang ‘Raag Jaunpuri’ with such devotion that people claimed to have seen stunningly dressed ‘raagini’ herself and as the master sang ‘bhairavi’, she disappeared. The incident then was widely covered by the press. His final stage performance was in Kolkata at the age of 14. He sang, “Vinati suno mori avadhapur ke basaiyaa” in raag bageshwari with such nobility that he was honoured with nine medals of pure gold besides cash prize. He came back to Delhi and continued singing for the AIR for another three months but felt sick there with non-declining mild fever. It is suspected that he was given mercury mixed in milk by an upcoming songster who was jealous of his achievements. The tiny capsule of the Master’s lifetime was dissolved when he returned to Shimla in the summers of 1942 and died on June 5. Shimla remained closed on that day and a huge gathering accompanied him in his last journey to the cremation ground. The irony is that recently when I visited the house where the Master had lived, I enquired from a gentleman running a shop in the vicinity as to where lived Master Madan, he asked, “Who Master Madan?” Our governments do not recognise such national treasures and so do ‘we the people’!
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Subsidy for farm equipment
Shimla, July 8 Director of agriculture J.C. Rana said here that Rs 1.78 crore would be spend to provide assistance to farmers for the purchase of machinery. Under the scheme, subsidy at the rate of 25 per cent of the cost for tractors up to 35 HP and power tillers of eight BHP to 15 BHP would be provided subject to a maximum of Rs 30,000. Similarly, 25 per cent assistance up to Rs 10,000 would be available to all tractor-drawn implements like cultivators, disc plough, chisel plough and reversible plough. In case of threshers, power-operated implements and machines, subsidy up to Rs 5,000, for animal-drawn implements up to Rs 2,000 and manually operated implements up to Rs 400 will be provided. Subsidy up to a maximum of Rs 600 on manually-operated plant protection equipments and up to Rs 1,200 on power-operated equipments is also available.
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N-deal in favour of nation: MP
Nurpur, July 8 Lashing out at the Dhumal government, he alleged that it had only indulged in political victimisation. He said the mass transfers without any administrative grounds had hit the development activities and created panic among the employees.
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Special Schemes
Kullu, July 8 She took stock of the progress and utilisation of funds of the schemes like Sampuran Gramin Rohjgar Yojna; Swaranjayanti Gram Swarojgar Yojna; Indira Awas Yojna; Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna, Hariyali; Computerisation of the land records; Rural Water Supply Scheme and Sampuran Swachhata Abhiyan. The MP claimed that the meetings of the vigilance committee were successfully monitoring the working of the departments of these schemes. DC M. Sudha Devi gave details of the developmental progress of the schemes initiated by the government. She said 1,708 developmental works were sanctioned in 2007-08 with the budgetary sanctions of Rs 324.41 lakh and 1,316 metric tonne rice was distributed through Zila Parishad, panchayat samitis and gram panchayats in this district.
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CITIZEN FIRST
Mobile towers have been flooding Sajla since 2000. Despite the fact that six towers are already functioning, one more tower of Vodafone is being installed in the same quarter. The generators sound very harsh to ears. The noise is more than 50 decibel that is enough to deafen anyone easily. The smoke left by the generators stagnates in the surroundings up to five minutes perceptibly.
The towers have been erected in the residential areas as also on the cultivated land at the cost of apple orchards. It is a fatal blow on the surroundings of the area. Monopoly of these mobile companies is causing serious problems. The problem needs a prompt consideration so that necessary steps could be taken well in time. H.L.Thakur Dr Himender Bali
Readers, write in
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