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Traffic jams routine on Dharampur-Kasauli road
Niche on Bollywood music scene her objective
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Vehicles parked outside Kangra Cooperative Bank, which is the largest government building in Dharamsala without any provision for parking. Photo by the writer
Himachal diary
Sundernagar cement plant faces uncertainty
Summer law school for US students
Punjab Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal presents the Shiromani Award to Hamirpur DC Abhishek
Jain
Vignettes
Air Marshal NAK Browne interacts with officers at the IAF station, Dalhousie. Tribune photo
Letter
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Traffic jams routine on Dharampur-Kasauli road
Solan, June 8 According to an estimate, almost 700 to 800 vehicles enter Parwanoo barrier everyday and out of this, at least half the number makes their way to the cool climes of Kasauli. But with no expansion of roads, Garkhal junction, where as many as five roads abut, has become a source of regular traffic jams. The situation was so alarming that even fire tenders, which were going to Kasauli to douse fire about a week ago, were caught in traffic jam and about 10 to 15 minutes were lost in making way for them. While this was not an isolated case, in yet another case a fire tender, which was going towards the Jagjitnagar road, took several minutes to clear itself from the traffic chaos at Garkhal junction last week. While forest fires were a regular feature in pine forests, such delays often led to uncontrolled fires due to the long dry spell. Not only this, traffic bottleneck created during weekends when vehicles influx almost doubled was a regular feature on the Dharampur-Kasauli road and especially at Garkhal. With no alternative route being planned, the situation became from bad to worse year after year. At times, traffic jams continued for 20 to 30 minutes at Garkhal junction and it had become a source of distraction for the tourists visiting Kasauli. The situation was compounded due to unregulated constructions along the road which had reduced it into a narrow corridor. Though the Town and Country Planning Department had devised norms to check such vertical constructions, its implementation was rather poor. Being a prime hill station, the place often received VVIPs from across the country and despite the best efforts of the traffic policemen they failed to provide hindrance-free traffic. Judges from Apex Court were among the visitors who frequented Kasauli in summers and this traffic chaos was now becoming a point of concern for commuters. Though an alternative Chakki-ka-Mor-Kimughat road was being constructed, its tardy progress had left the people with no option but to suffer traffic blues while visiting Kasauli. “With resorts regularly holding national-level conferences, traffic chaos is now becoming a major hassle in such seminars,” confided Rocky Chimney, general manager, Kasauli resorts. A recent national-level conference of chief commissioners from the Income Tax Department held at Baikunth Resorts met with the same problem. Resorts MD Rana Jolly while ruing the lack of road discipline said: “Flagrant unchecked use of pressure horns led to noise pollution which disturbed the peace and with no check on haphazard parking, width of the road was reduced considerably. Though there was an Apex Court ruling against the use of such horns, there is no check on their misuse”. He added that though a suggestion to put in place traffic lights at Garkhal junction had been given to the authorities to streamline traffic, no worthwhile step was taken to regulate it. It was high time that the administration took steps to streamline the traffic or tourists would shy away from this clean and pristine hill station.
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Niche on Bollywood music scene her objective
Shimla, June 8 Even though the Shimla International Summer Festival proved to be a damp squib, Bhavya managed to impress the audience with her renditions. “Having watched singing sensations like Pankaj Udhas, Udit Narain, Shaan, Hema Sardesai and Shreya Gishal on the stage of the Shimla Summer Festival, I dreamt that one day I too would be a star of that statute to perform here,” she said after her performance. She even has their autographs taken at that time. Born in Hisar (Haryana), Bhavya started displaying her singing talent at the tender age of four. “I was first spotted by Ustad Bismilah Khan who advised my parents to take me to Mumbai so that I could get proper training and exposure,” she reveals about her journey to stardom. Her parents shifted to Mumbai where she trained under the able guidance of Pandit Prabhakar Karekar. She did not disappoint her parents and was honoured with the National Balshree Award, conferred on her by the then President, APJ Abdul Kalam, at the age of 14. However, it was the platform of Indian Idol, which shot her into limelight even though she could make it only to the top six. There has been no looking back for since then as the young star has performed in 200 shows in India and abroad. “Even after the Indian Idol euphoria died down I continued with my riyaaz and training only to get a call one fine morning from famed lyricist Javed Akhtar for a recording,” she says about the big break. “I have already sung a song for a Hindi film “What’s Your Rashi” with Shaan as well as for a Bhojpuri film with Udit Narain and some other plum assignments are also in the pipeline,” she reveals. Not the one to be carried away by fame and showbiz Bhavya remains very grounded as she knows she has miles to go before she can bask in adulation. All of 18, Bhavya knows her voice is her biggest asset and it is only through rigorous training and honing that she can become the choice of music directors in Bollywood.
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Parking mess chokes lower Dharamsala
Dharamsala, June 8 However, none of commercial complexes or hotels has a provision for the parking of vehicles. Even major government buildings, including that of Kangra Cooperative Bank, which is mainly responsible for traffic mess on the Civil Lines road, do not have such facility. The bank has over 200 employees working in its four-storeyed building. However, there is a provision for parking just one vehicle inside the building and most of the employees park their vehicles on roads. As per rules, each commercial building should make provision for parking. However, the local administration is not taking any action against any commercial building or hotel for its violation. The local municipal council is only concentrating on creating parking space in Kotwali market and it has not taken any such initiative in the Civil Lines area, where more commercial complexes are coming up, which is likely to aggravate the situation. Meanwhile, the traffic problems in the area have increased manifold during the ongoing tourist season. Besides, the police has started a “selective” drive of picking up vehicles parked on the roads. They allege that discriminatory policies being followed by traffic cops are annoying for tourists. While cops are ignoring vehicles parked on roads by government officials near Kangra Cooperative Bank, they try impound vehicles bearing registration number of other states. The said practice of the traffic police is being resented by locals. In case of parking, they have urged the local administration to either force owners of commercial buildings to develop parking places or create a public parking in various localities. The administration should first provide parking space before expecting people to follow rules, they said.
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NGO aims at promoting awareness about biodiversity
The colourful photographs of black-throated tit, spotted fork tail, small fork tail and other species stole the show which was a result of tireless efforts of Prashant Bhatti who wandered in the Himalayas from Kashmir to Uttarakhand for nine years. President of Ashadeep Sushil Tanwar said out of the total 1234 bird species, 934 were native to the Indian peninsula. Of these, 434 were found in the northern Himalayas. The event was part of his organisation's effort to promote awareness about biodiversity as 2010 had been declared the "Year of Biodiversity". All activities like blood donation and free health camps were being used to highlight the importance of preserving biodiversity. For instance, every blood donor was given a sapling of an important social forestry species as a gift. Similarly, the patients at free health camps were presented with saplings of herbal plants so that they appreciate the need to preserve biodiversity. Additional Chief Secretary Avay Shukla, who inaugurated the exhibition appreciated the effort of Ashadeep, saying it was for the first time that he had come across a non-government organisation holding a photo exhibition to create awareness about biodiversity. MIT students excel
Students of MIT Engineering Institute, Hamirpur, have excelled in the first semester BE examination conducted by HP University. Four students of the institute figure among the top 10 in the merit list. Pooja Verma topped the merit list while Nisha Thakur and Dinesh got the second and fourth positions, respectively.
World Environment Day
World Environment Day on June 5 saw a host of programmes across the state with people taking oaths to save the fast-degrading environment and experts discussing ways to protect it. The areas in and around Hamirpur, however, presented an entirely different picture. A strong storm which lashed the region the previous night had left thousands of trees uprooted, causing huge damage to fruit crops, forest trees and flora as a whole. Many people turned nature's wrath into an opportunity and taking advantage of the situation swung into action quite early in the morning to collect wood in the nearby forests littered with fallen trees and branches. So enthusiastic were local nomads that their entire groups entered the forests to partake the bounty offered by nature. The village people, in particular nomads, are largely dependent for firewood on forests. Some of them even brought a jeep to transport the wood fast in early hours of the day through the VIP area. Not to be left behind, many locals also carried loads of fallen branches as per their carrying capacity. If all this happened in the district headquarters, the general scenario in villages could be well imagined. Peeved at the illegal collection of forest produce, an environmentalist wished that the locals and nomads, who are so much dependent on forests for many of needs showed the same enthusiasm in protecting forests from fires.
Oak, deodar saplings planted
Radisson Hotel, Shimla, celebrated World Environment Day by planting trees and cleaning the area around its premises. The programme was carried out with the support and guidance of the Forest Department and the State Pollution Control Board. The hotel staff planted 20 oak and deodar saplings in the adjoining forest. It has been organising such programmes to create awareness about environment preservation and motivating others to follow it. The objective was to make everyone realise that "safety of the mankind lay in a greener and cleaner future". (Contributed by
Rakesh Lohumi
and DP Gupta)
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Sundernagar cement plant faces uncertainty
Mandi, June 8 The Bench, headed by Justice Deepak Gupta and Justice Sanjay Karol, has stayed the announcement of final awards, issuing directions to the relevant parties in the case. Ashok Sharma, counsel for the petitioners, said they had challenged the NOC given to the company by the Ministry of Forests and Environment as the site was in a thickly populated area. "Pollution from the plant will lead to diseases like bronchitis, asthma and TB among residents and the company is not giving enough compensation," he added. Though the state government and the pollution control board have filed their reply in the case, the company and the ministry have not yet responded,
sources said. The successive state governments have been blaming each other for the setting of the cement plant. Residents of the Chambi-Khatravari area have now pinned
their hopes on the high court for justice. The central empowered committee is yet to give its verdict on the objections raised by the Paryavarna Sangharsh Samiti (PSS), Sundernagar. Moreover, the Ministry of Environment and Forests is yet to approve the new plant site at Chambi-Khatravari near
Sundernagar.
The committee has not given approval to the mining site of the plant that lies about 5 km from Bandli wildlife sanctuary and its eco-sensitive zone. On the other hand, the ministry had approved the diversion of 173 hectares of forestland as against company's demand of 473 hectares in 2005.
"This is a ploy the company has adopted to first get approval for small chunk of land then spread its wing for more land once the plant is set up," resent PSS members. The villagers accuse that the local administration was acting on the behest of the company while ignoring their genuine objections and demands.
The majority of population in the belt opposes the plant, they assert.
The residents opposing the plant allege that the company was out to bribe officials and local politicians to win over them into its fold. They are giving them vehicles of choice as it is do or die for it to get the plant approved, they allege.
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Summer law school for US students
Shimla, June 8 The students undertaking law courses in various colleges in the US are currently in Shimla for two weeks and will later move to Mcleodganj, headquarters of the Tibetan government-in-exile for spending a fortnight. Being aware of Buddhism and Tibetan spiritual and temporal leader the Dalai Lama, they are excited to meet the Nobel laureate. With the likes of Richard Gere, Pierce Brosnan and Goldie Hawn being ardent followers of the Dalai Lama and supporter of the Tibetan freedom movement, seeking blessings from the spiritual guru would be a lifetime opportunity for them. The course has been structured in a manner where they get an idea about the legal system in India, facilitating a process of comparison and contrast with their own system. The programme will have four courses, including Indian and Tibetan law and philosophy, comparative constitutional law-gender and race, international human rights and international environmental law. During the programme they will interact with lawyers, judiciary, police personnel, social activists, leaders of various political parties and human rights activists. An interaction with Director General of Police Dr DS Manhas was organised for them here on their arrival last week. Manhas chose the topic "cultural values, law and security in India" keeping in mind all pervasive aspect of varied Indian culture in our lives. He informed them about Indian legal system and its significance from security angle, role of women in the police, human rights violations, community policing and police reforms and protection for accused under law. The students had their own queries about police reforms, selection process for appointing police officers and personnel, political pressures within the system, tackling Naxalism and Maoist movement threatening internal security system and other such topical issues. "Since Indian legal system had not been sufficiently studied in the US, we thought of having summer law programme to provide this enriching exposure to the students," said Marianne Artusio, director, Touro Law Education. The students are also accompanied by teachers from various US universities.
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Hamirpur DC wins laurels in typing
Hamirpur, June 8 The Punjab government has given this award to Jain in appreciation of his contribution in the promotion of Punjabi language by winning national championship in Punjabi typing six times and also winning the world typing championships thrice. Jain was awarded at a function along with other prominent personalities from Punjab like renowned writer Kartar Singh Duggal, famous film actor Om Puri and noted Punjabi singer Paramjit Singh Pammi. Abhishek Jain set a national record in Punjabi typing at a young age of 16 and his record is still unbroken. Jain became world typing champion at a tender age of 13 and holds the world record of being the youngest and fastest champion since 1953. His name also appears in the Limca Book of World Records. His world record typing speed was 135 words per minute. Jain also won two gold medals in the International Youth Conference and Championships at Bonn (Germany) in 1996 in electronic typing and computers. He has also been national typing champion in English, Hindi and Punjabi. Abhishek Jain was earlier conferred with Punjab Rattan, Himachal Shree, FIE Foundation National Award, Ambedkar International Mission Award and the Indian Council for Child Welfare Award.
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When Development Commissioner met his watery grave
by Shriniwas Joshi A fortnight back I was standing on the 145 ft by 20 ft. bridge built over Markanda river, 8 km towards Paonta Sahib on the national highway 72. As I watched the river below, I found it a small rivulet with very little water (See photo) but that reminded me of its sudden rise whenever there was rain in the upper reaches. It was October, 1954, when it had rained very heavily, the Development Commissioner of Himachal Pradesh, OP Krishna, wanted to cross the river to go to Paonta Sahib. As there was no bridge over the river then, people used to wade through it. Krishna, along with his family, came in a jeep from Nahan and after disembarking members of his family on the right bank of the river drove the jeep himself to gauge the possibility of crossing it. At midstream, the gush of water pushed the jeep with force; it dwindled, turned turtle and was lost in the full flowing water. The furious Markanda river did not hear the wails, shouts and cries of the members of his family and gave a watery grave to Krishna whose body was found 15 km down at Kala Amb. Markanda was a non-describable place a few years ago. It is now a halting place for tourists and travellers coming from Uttarakhand and Paonta Sahib. Quite a few cafes, hotels and dhabas have come up here. A road bifurcates from here to Vikram Bagh (5 km.) and Suketi Fossil Park (15 km.). The park, on the bank of Markanda, displays six sets of life-sized fiberglass models of pre-historic animals whose fossils, skeletons were unearthed here. Located in the Shivaliks, it is first of its kind in Asia to be developed at the actual site where fossils were discovered. Markanda river, whose ancient name was Aruna, I believe, has earned its new name from Rishi Markandeya. The story goes that sage Mrukandu prayed to Lord Shiva for a son. Lord Shiva offered him either to have an intelligent son who lives only for 16 years or a foolish one who lives for 100 years. The sage chose the former. Markandeya, a great devotee of Shiva, was born to him. On his 16th birthday, he embraced Shivlingam. Yama, the lord of death, came to take away his soul but Lord Shiva saved his devotee and Markandeya became immortal who is venerated on the birthdays of mortals for their long lives. Markanda river rises at Baraban in the hills of Katasan in Sirmour district and passes below the temple of Katasan Devi. Flowing from south-east to south-west for about 24 km. within the district, irrigating Bajora, Sambhuwala, Vikram Bag and surrounding areas, it passes on to Ambala district at Kala Amb. It is joined by a streamlet, Salani, at Dewani village. This rain-fed river has low flow in the winter and the summer, but during the monsoon the water level rises abruptly. The notorious river is still not tamed. It washed away two spans of a bridge between Sadhaura and Kala Amb and four labourers in 2006 who were, somehow, saved and in 2008, Ram Chander, a 45-year-old resident of Nagal Village of Nahan tehsil was drowned when the waters rose immediately. It is ironical that a river meriting its name from the God that bestows long life is the harbinger of sudden death. Markanda is illustrious as it along with Ghaggar, the two seasonal rivers, is always named with Saraswati, one of the greatest rivers of ancient India that the Rigveda calls a river par excellence that was supposed to have passed through Haryana. Has it now vanished?
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Air Marshal Browne beckons youth
Dalhousie, June 8 During his inspection, he stressed upon operational preparedness of the base and welfare measures taken to improve the living conditions of fighting forces. He was accompanied by his wife Kiran Browne, who is the president of the Air Force Wives Welfare Association (AFWWA) (Regional), Western Air Command. Kiran on the occasion released a book on medicinal plants of Dalhousie at the station medicare centre and inaugurated Little Heart Play School at the AFWWA (Local) Sangini Upkram complex. Kiran appreciated the efforts put in by the AFWWA (L) in starting this state-of-the-art play school for the benefit of air warriors posted here. This school would provide quality and scientific education on the curriculum prepared by the experts in this field. This would also benefit civilians in and around the station who can get their children enrolled in this school. During their tour, the couple interacted with children attending the AFWWA (R) summer adventure camp at Dainkund and attended campfire as the chief guest. In his speech, Air Marshal encouraged children to join the Air Force and keep the spirit of adventure alive lifelong.
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Why quota within quota?
In 1984, the state government gave 2 per cent reservation in jobs to the wards of freedom fighters. Till 1997, it continued well, but later the reservation policy was given an ugly shape by further bifurcating it on caste lines, which was in violation of Article 16(1) of the Constitution, which rules out reservation within reservation. In this way, a maximum share of this category is doled out to main categories of SC and OBC. The category of WFF (general) has been ignored although freedom fighters (general) comprise 99 per cent of the total freedom fighters in the state. Even the Supreme Court had condemned such violation of Article 16 (1) when a Bench of Justice SB Sinha and Justice HS Bedi delivered a verdict against the MP government in a case of handicapped persons on 30.8.07. The verdict said, “A disabled is a disabled. The question of making any further reservation on the basis of caste, creed or religion ordinarily may not arise”. Through this esteemed paper, I appeal to all wards of freedon fighters in the state to come on common platform to raise their voice against this injustice. Tan Sen Kayastha president, Wards Of Freedom Fighters Association
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Solan, June 8
The three-day photo exhibition on Himalayan birds organised by local NGO Ashadeep at Shimla's Gaeity Theatre turned out to be quite educative as much information was provided along with the pictures of gorgeous winged creatures, including some rare ones (See picture).