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Bridge over Gobind Sagar in Bilaspur
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Rachna
Telecom cos a source of trouble in Mandi
IPH Dept gears up to face water scarcity
vignettes
Himachal diary
It’s advantage HP, package or otherwise
Succour to AIDS victims
Kopal Thakur
Unemployed Gaddi youths find way to earn living
Vinod Kumar Mattu
Tribal museum a distant dream
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Bridge over Gobind Sagar in Bilaspur Jai Kumar
Bilaspur, April 6 Confirmed reports said the construction company had given a “lump sum” tender of Rs 23 crore for this 318-metre span length concrete box type cantilever bridge. According to the contract-conditions, its construction should have been completed by July 2008. Now, when the bridge is already behind schedule by two years, the contractors have suddenly found that one of the main 34-metre high overground pillar (pier) on the left river side would not be able to bear the massive load and pull of the bridge and is liable to either tilt towards one side or collapse suddenly during the construction. It is said that the construction company, a reputed concern, had designed the bridge and the “experts” of the HP PWD had also approved the same design and now how come the design is being found “faulty, when more than Rs 21 crore had already been spent on its construction till date? This naturally has also put in question the seriousness and the sense of responsibility with which our own experts have been functioning in the state PWD who have approved this design and who gave go-ahead signal to the construction. Who would be responsible for the wastage of the necessary extra funds that this poor state would have to spend to complete this project, only due to their carelessness ? The company is now demanding Rs 2 crore extra for enabling it to give strength to this pier by constructing additional abutment. The department has naturally refused the request as the company has to bear all costs within the lump sum tender amount to complete the project. Consequently, the construction work is totally stopped since then, which would further delay the completion and would also entail extra expenditure due to cost escalations. The historic bridge when completed, would usher in a new era of economic boom for lakhs of population of poverty-ridden Gehadwin reserved constituency, the most backward area of Bilaspur district as it would directly link Suharghat (Naina Deviji constituency) with Marottan side and reduce one way distance between Shah Talai and Chandigarh by 35 km, avoiding long and circuitous journey through Bilaspur town. Several areas would get benefit of reduced journey of one way from 75 to 100 km. This problem was created by the formation of the Gobind Sagar some 60 years ago after the construction of the Bhakra dam and lakhs of oustees, trapped across this lake, have been clamouring for it.
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Polio fails to stop her march ahead
Hamirpur, April 6 Twenty-seven-year-old Rachna of Maharal village under Badsar subdivision of the district continued her struggle against all odds and today, she is a role model for other girls of the area. Rachna is a professional tailor, trainer and social activist. Besides, she is also involved in adventure sports. Rachna, who was affected with polio when just one year old, never lost courage and pursued her education diligently even after her marriage in 1999. She completed her bachelor’s degree in library sciences and master’s degree in history. She later took training in stitching and embroidery and adopted this as a profession. By her constant efforts, she became a known tailor in the area and today, she stitches five dresses in a day. Buoyed by her success, Rachna also started imparting training in tailoring and embroidery to other girls of the area. She has so far trained 20 girls who have adopted tailoring as their profession and became self-employed. This enterprising girl also formed a mahila mandal in her village in 2004, and was elected as the secretary and president of this organisation. The mahila mandal was later affiliated to Nehru Yuva Kendra, which once took members of this club for an adventure camp in Manali where Rachna got training in rock climbing, river crossing, fox flying, monkey crawling etc. Rachna was also selected as best camper of the state for her all-round performance. She also scaled the snow covered Saragidhar peak. Rachna is all praise for her husband, Purshottam, who motivated her at every step and rendered all help. He had married her without seeking any dowry. Rachna is an active member of the firefighting club of her village and motivates youth to fight against social evils like dowry, female foeticide, drugs etc.
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Telecom cos a source of trouble in Mandi
Mandi/Kullu, April 6 The Mandi Municipal Council (MMC), which has remained a mute spectator to all this, is marred by ego-tussle and bickering among councillors, throwing the real problems being faced by the common man to the sidelines. This is evident from the fact that the councillors have removed their president and vice-president for the record five times. “It has been a month now since the cable laying work of Airtel started in Mandi town,” rue members of the Citizens Council. “Nobody bothers to carry out the work in a systematic manner since there is a lot of dust on the roads and the debris of dug-up roads keep spreading, much to the inconvenience of local residents and passersby,” they complain. The plight of residents in Kullu, Bhuntar and tourist town of Manali is no different as telecom companies tamper with power supply lines the way they want using their influence,” charge residents. “The companies have been digging up roads and streets by taking permission from the PWD and other agencies and turn the roads dusty and potholed. We have to bear the dust that causes bronchial and pulmonary problems among residents,” they complain. Besides, the mobile phone service providers have been erecting communication towers not only in residential areas but also on forestland without paying a single penny to the government,” the residents allege. Even the high court has asked the state government to remove towers from the residential areas. But the fact remains that the municipalities never bother about compliance as house owners who have allowed towers earn handsome money, say residents. The companies plead that they have submitted their applications to the council for permission and pay monthly charges fixed by the state government. Telecom experts, however, say the councils and the district administration should formulate guidelines for laying cables and towers keeping in view the interests of all stakeholders. The companies should be asked to share towers and cable lines wherever possible to avoid overcrowding and digging of roads again and again, they say. HR Vaidya, council president, says the council has taken up the matter with the DC.
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IPH Dept gears up to face water scarcity
Palampur, April 6 He said just 300 of the 45367 villages in the state did not have potable drinking water. The government planned to spend over Rs 200 crore under a time- bound project to cover these villages. With over 8,000 villages not getting adequate supply of drinking water, the government planned to augment the water supply schemes in these villages. The minister said all executive engineers would be directed to personally visit the water-deficient areas to assess the situation. The IPH department had been asked to make functional all defective hand pumps and restore the traditional water sources. New hand pumps would also be installed in water-deficient areas in the state. The government would now lay more stress on gravity water supply schemes to reduce the electricity bills. The state was paying Rs 100 crores annually to the HPSEB on account of electricity charges for lift water supply schemes.
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vignettes Friends of my age still remember the lion-head public water taps (See photo) made of cast iron installed in Shimla during the British Raj, mostly on The Mall starting from Boileaugaunj, Lakkar Bazaar to the present HP Secretariat. An old-timer informed me that one such tap was there near the junction of Lower Bazaar and Ganj. Like me, my friends too are charmed by the lion imagery in water taps. The lion has been an ancient symbol found in many carvings and paintings. It was connected to the sun and the fire and was perceived as a moral cleansing and purifying force. Lion imagery on royal thrones was supposed to offer protection to the occupant. Today, it is viewed as both protector and sign of sovereignty. The Hindus see the lion as the 'vahan' of Goddess Durga and revere it along with the goddess. But why lion-heads on water taps? I could find that the lion symbolism on water taps actually began from Persia where water was scarce and sacred. Its pollution was considered a great sin. The lion was used by the Persians as the guardian of water. It is found depicted in water faucets, water baths, water vessels etc. It may be of interest to note that the Persian word 'shir' means both the lion and the water faucet. The British accepted the lion as a symbol for water taps and water faucets from the Persians. Even today, a high gentry's house in Britain has a water faucet with lion-head relief in it. The old world charm of Shimla can be brought back by installing the old and forgotten water taps. Suneel Grover, senior engineer (operations) in the HP Electricity Board, at the time of the inauguration of LED lighting by the CM on The Mall in February this year, can announce: "Most of the lamp-posts, which once used to light up the city, are either neglected or have been rendered useless. We have decided to restore them as they were during the British period." Why should not the MC do the same for water taps? The water taps jutting out of granite slabs installed in memory of the revered deceased do not go well with the ambience of Shimla at all. These could be replaced by the old cast iron water taps and that, I believe, would give more solace to the departed souls. "Shimla was dependent for water supply upon over 17 natural springs and water baolis. Once it became the summer capital, steps were taken to conserve water for the growing town" writes Pamela Kanwar. Bhistis used to deliver water house to house after collecting it from the springs. Two reservoirs were then constructed; one at Sanjauli and the other on the Ridge by 1884, after a large catchment area was developed at Seog from where the water was brought to Shimla through pipes. Shimla started getting piped water while HB Goad, 'prince of managers and terror of all evildoers' was the secretary of the Municipal Committee from 1878 to 1895. It was during his tenure, I believe, that the lion-head public water taps with letters SWW (Simla Water Works) engraved thereon were installed. I could locate an identical water tap installed in 1887 by a British company at Yokohama, Japanese port on Tokyo bay, and that gives me the support to write that Shimla too during that time got these taps. The water works system improved here with the levying of water tax for the first time in 1900-01, entailing an income of Rs.4951 to the MC, a precious amount then.
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Shimla roads in for a facelift
Large stretches of roads in Shimla under the control of the local municipal corporation, which have been crying for attention, will finally get a proper facelift. Digging for laying pipelines, repair of underground telecom cables and water and sewerage lines, stacking of construction material, landslides and other building activities cause severe damage to roads (See photo) round the year but repair and maintenance is carried out once or twice and most of the damaged roads were left uncared for. However, the corporation has decided to double the spending on tarring and repair of roads this season. "As many as 25 km out of the total 192 km of roads will be resurfaced as against the normal 15 to 18 km at a cost of Rs 2.5 crore" says KK Sharma, joint municipal commissioner and MC spokesman. Private contractors will also be involved and emphasis will be on ensuring quality of work through proper supervision. Major upgradation works will be undertaken in damage-prone stretches to ensure durability. Meanwhile, the PWD is also undertaking the required measures to improve and upgrade Circular Road, lifeline of the city. The traffic police has identified 11 narrow spots that are hazardous to safe driving and require urgent attention. The aim will be to have a minimum road width of 7.5 m all through. Kisan Bagwan Smridhi Yojna
The Pandit Deen Dayal Kisan Bagwan Smridhi Yojna under which 80 per cent subsidy is being provided to farmers for setting up polyhouses has started showing results. The beneficiaries of the scheme launched last year are reaping rich dividends and success stories are pouring in. Raman Kumar, a physically challenged farmer of Una, who set up a 500 sq m polyhouse and a sprinkler system covering 20 kanals of land with a grant of Rs 3, 63,480 from the Agriculture Department, is today assured of a monthly income ranging from Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000. He lost one leg in an accident at the age of 14. However, he did not let his disability come in his way and taking advantage of the scheme he undertook a series of activities, including setting up a nursery of high-yielding varieties of plants and cultivation of off-season vegetables in the polyhouse. He also reared milch cattle which fetched him around Rs 8,000 to 10,000 every month. Raman Kumar is not the only one benefiting from the scheme as farmers in different parts of the state are also adopting it to help improve their socio-economic status.
He did his job well
Outgoing Hamirpur SP Asif Jalal is considered an upright officer and everybody except for criminals and people with vested interests had cordial relations with him. During his stint here he made efforts to rein in rowdy elements and also walked extra mile to control over-speeding drivers, drug addicts and small-time and big criminals. Though Jalal had to tread carefully Hamirpur being the home district of Chief Minister, he always worked in a professional manner, maintaining his cool. On March 31, which was the SP's last day in office, he patrolled many areas of the town and booked many rowdy elements among the liquor lovers with liquor selling cheap as liquor contractors were in a hurry to finish their stocks. One such person was heard uttering: "akhiri din bhi isko arram ki neend nahin". Many police organisations and the Press Club, Hamirpur, organised farewell parties for the outgoing SP. (Contributed by
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It’s advantage HP, package or otherwise
Solan, April 6 An illustration of this point was the keenness shown by two-wheeler major Hero Honda to propose an investment of Rs 2,000 crore even after the expiry of the incentive package. Sources in the Industries Department said enquires were still coming from big investors who saw Himachal as a favourable destination. The state had 36,300 large, medium and small scale industries which had an investment of Rs 8,936.57 crore and had the potential to generate employment for nearly 2.35 lakh youths. Post package, investment of Rs 6,326 crore, which was almost 71 per cent of the total investment till today, was witnessed in the state. These figures would have increased further had the package period not been curtailed from its earlier 10-year period. Since job avenues in the government sector were limited, industrial growth was being seen as a potent source of employment among over 8 lakh unemployed youths registered with the state’s various employment exchanges. The state’s claim to extend the industrial package was stiffly opposed by the neighbouring states of Punjab and Haryana who asserted exodus of industry from their state. The state government has however not lost hope of alluring industry as it provided an ambient atmosphere where uninterrupted and quality power was available and there was no law and order problem. In contrast, Punjab had imposed nearly 96 hours weekly cut on power and the induction arc-based furnaces were blatantly told to shut down thrice a week in view of power scarcity. In such a scenario, investors were ready to shift their industries to Himachal where adequate power was assured even in lean winter months. An entrepreneur from Mohali, who was looking for land in the Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh (BBN) industrial area, said with reduced power supply running an industry had become an exorbitant proposition in Punjab. “Since my land would fetch me a few crores, the same amount could be used to buy land at much lesser cost in the BBN and initiate operations in Himachal which promised quality and assured power supply”. Further, with work on the ambitious expressway, which would link BBN to an upcoming airport near Mohali, and the completion of the Siswan-Chandigarh Road, commuting time between Chandigarh and the BBN had been reduced further encouraging the investors to invest in Himachal. Several other key projects like laying of pipeline for providing natural gas for industrial, commercial, domestic demand, including that of transporters after signing of an MoU with the Natural Gas Regulatory Board, were in the pipeline. A Rs 10.81 crore trade centre and an inland container depot which were being set up would augment the industrial growth. It remained to be seen how well Himachal could tap investors at a time when the neighbouring states failed to facilitate the industry.
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Age limit for financial aid extended
Pratibha Chauhan Tribune News Service
Shimla, April 6 It was only a few days ago that the notification for raising the age limit from was issued as children, some of whom have either lost both their parents or one of them, were facing problems in continuing their studies after the age of 15. Now children between the age of 15 and 18 will get a monthly financial assistance of Rs 800. Being the only state in the country to be extending financial assistance to 866 children of AIDS and HIV-infected persons, the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) is keen that other states replicate the Himachal model so that children of AIDS victims are not deprived of a normal healthy living because of the medical ailment of their parents. A sizeable number of 866 children of AIDS and HIV-infected parents get monthly assistance through the District AIDS Control Programme Officer. In many cases old grandparents are left to fend for these unfortunate children and being in the twilight of their lives they find it difficult to take good care of children in the absence of any financial assistance. "Impressed by Himachal's initiative, NACO at a recent meeting stressed the need for other states to adopt similar welfare schemes," said Dr Sulakshan Puri, Project Director of the Himachal AIDS Control Society. At present children between 0 and 3 years get Rs 300, 4 and 6 years Rs 400, 7 and 9 years Rs 500, 10 and 12 years Rs 600, 13 and 15 years Rs 700. For the first time those between 16 and 18 years will get Rs 800 per month. Officials point out that the age limit was enhanced as children are not able to complete their studies or get jobs till they are 15 and once they are 18 they will be in a better position to support themselves. With better awareness levels and acceptability in society these children do not face problems in most cases but after the death of the father, non-working mothers face great difficulty in continuing the education of her children. In many cases, her in-laws disown her and she is asked to fend for herself. A large number of AIDS and HIV patients are already getting anti-retro viral treatment free of cost at Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) and at the Zonal Hopsital, Hamirpur. In fact, an AIDS and HIV patient and one attendant can travel free of cost in HRTC buses to facilitate their regular treatment for a better life quality.
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Shimla girl making waves in motor sport
Shimla, April 6 A pretty girl from the "Queen of Hills" is indeed making waves in the world motor sport with her breathtaking acrobatics on motorbikes. Currently pursuing her MBA at Symbiosis in Pune, 23-year-old Kopal Thakur has found a place among the top-ranked women bikers in the country along with Alisha Abdulla and Meghna Khanna. Daredevilry has been in her blood as her father, Col Prem Vir Singh, a black cat commando, himself performed such difficult feats as part of his professional training and preparedness. Laffy, as she is lovingly called by her friends and family members, spent her childhood in the company of commandos at the Manesar Taining Centre of the Army. She daily saw commandos performing stunts and other feats which kindled her interest in adventure sports and stunts in her formative years. "The environment in which she was bought up not only made her fearless but also inspired her to tread on the uncharted course in life" says Col Singh who encouraged her to make foray into what has been for long the exclusive male preserve. As soon as she turned 18 she wanted a Bullet motorcycle and not a scooty which most girls ride. However, he persuaded her to go for Yamaha. Since then there has been no going back and at present her favourite ride is Karishma. Her passion for adventure really blossomed after she went to Pune to pursue her academic career. She spent all her time in pursuing her passion for "speed and stunts" on wheels. It not only required rare skills to control and manoeuvre the monster machines to perform the stunts but also the nerves of steel. She had both and it is not surprising that she is making to the front pages of magazines these days not for her academic achievements but for her "daredevilry" on motorbikes. Her dream is to perform stunts that could cause envy to the men riders. Her ambition is to own a "Durati 1098", the world's costliest two-wheeler and, if possible, to have a customised chopper. One of her most memorable experiences has been the long Yamaha rally during which she rode through seven states starting from Mumbai right up to Chandigarh and back. It gave her confidence that she had the skills and endurance to participate in tough long rallies.
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Unemployed Gaddi youths find way to earn living
Dharamsala, April 6 Raju is semi-literate youth from the rural area of the Shahpur Assembly constituency in Kangra district. However, he is famous among foreign tourists coming to Dharamkot, an elusive village 2 km uphill from the famous hill station of Mcleodganj. He is running a small eating joint in the name of Radha Krishna in Dharamkot. Despite the fact that the influx of foreign tourists in the state has been low this year, the eating joint of Raju is already buzzing with activity. Ever since he started the eating joint, he is finding it hard to cope with unprecedented crowd visiting the place. While talking to The Tribune Raju said he started the eating joint a few years ago in a leased building. “I have brought with me a few more youths from the village who are now my partners and help me in running the show”. This year Raju also spent the winter months in Goa. He was given the idea of running an eating joint in winter months from September to March in Goa by two Russian tourists. Tourism is lean in winter months at Dharamkot or other hill stations of the state. Raju said this year he ran an eating joint in Goa during the winter months and the business was good there. “I intend to repeat the practice of shifting to Goa after September every year,” he said. Like Raju, many rural youths from Dharamsala have adopted the practice of migrating to Goa during the winter months for doing business in the hospitality industry. Youths of the state have picked up the idea of migrating for doing business in the hospitality industry from their counterparts in Goa. Many youths from Goa also come to the hill stations of Himachal Pradesh and take eating joints and buildings on lease for summer months. Though they are not catering the high-end tourists, the new variety of migratory youths from the Kangra valley have shown how a little initiative can create self-employment initiatives for youths. A few Gaddi tribe youths, who have also taken up to the new migratory practice, said it was not a new thing for them. “Our forefathers used to migrate to the plains in winters along with their sheep flocks. Now we have started migrating to Goa to earn a living in hospitality industry,” they added.
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Awards for HP varsity don
Shimla, April 6 Mattu is engaged in active research on various aspects of animal biodiversity, sociobiology, sustainability, beekeeping technology and conservation of natural pollinators like bees, butterflies and birds. He had also contributed to many issues related to managed crop pollination, conservation biology, new frontiers in apiculture for sustainable livelihood, integrated rural development programmes during the past three decades. He has received several awards for his commendable work in the past. Prof Mattu has published several books, compendia and 125 research papers in journals of national and international repute. He is on the Boards of Management of many scientific bodies like the Asian Apiculture Association, Japan; Care International, IUSSI, Netherlands, and International Task Force on Beekeeping in Asia.
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Tribal museum a distant dream
Chamba, April 6 The building for the purpose of setting up a tribal museum was constructed three years ago, but instead of a museum it is housing a library. The department of languages and culture has already written a letter to the resident commissioner of Pangi asking him to vacate the building constructed for setting up of a tribal museum so that art objects could be displayed in the building, but the matter is hanging fire. It is for the first time that a unique tribal museum has been proposed to be set up in the far-flung Pangi tribal valley of Chamba district, reveals district languages officer Prem Sharma.
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Large stretches of roads in Shimla under the control of the local municipal corporation, which have been crying for attention, will finally get a proper facelift. Digging for laying pipelines, repair of underground telecom cables and water and sewerage lines, stacking of construction material, landslides and other building activities cause severe damage to roads (See photo) round the year but repair and maintenance is carried out once or twice and most of the damaged roads were left uncared for.
