Hanging power pole misses HPSEB eye
Subhash Sharma

Kullu, June 15
The hanging top of a high-voltage transmission line electricity pole just at the entry gate of Kullu-Manali airport in Bhuntar, 10 km from here, is being overlooked for more than a month by the HPSEB authorities.

Residents and officials of the Airport Authority of India (AAI) have repeatedly approached the HPSEB, but to no avail. A group of residents said the hanging high-tension wires have been giving them sleepless nights. As the area is prone to strong winds, sparking in the wires not only creates panic but also poses a threat to their electrical and electronic gadgets, they add.

The residents ironically opined, “The pole has also become a thing of attraction for tourists arriving at Bhuntar. The HPSEB deserves a special award for this added attraction”. There are apprehensions of a fatal accident that would not only take a heavy toll on life but also cause fire in surrounding buildings.

Besides, the condition of service wires in the Bhuntar subdivision is bad. The insulation of wires has disintegrated and live wires are naked. The department  expressed inability to replace the wires due to short supply and customers are forced to buy wires if they need replacement or new connection.

It may be recalled that the most of the fire accidents were caused due to short-circuit in the district and the reason remained poor quality of electricity wires, besides poor maintenance. RS Thakur, assistant executive engineer, HPSEB, Bhuntar, said poles in the subdivision were being changed in a phased manner.

PCC (pre-cast cement concrete) poles would be replaced with steel tubular poles, he said, adding that estimates for more  poles and improvement had been given to the  higher-ups.

The residents, however, say the authorities should replace such poles and damaged service wires  on a priority.

Bilaspur, June 15
It was in 1960 that Gobind Sagar took its shape here at Bilaspur, making every tourist coming to visit Kullu - Manali from Shimla and also from adjoining states of Chandigarh, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and Rajasthan breathless due to its charm . The Himachal Government then thought it advisable to appoint an Assistant Tourism Officer at the main bus stand here to help and guide  the tourists.

Then a Tourist Hostel with several rooms and dormitories was also constructed for tourists and facilities of various water sports along with required equipment were provided in Gobind Sagar. Every year, when Gobind Sagar was filled to its brim, a number of water sports training camps for universities students and youths of various states were held every summer. State and country-level national boat and water sports competitions virtually became an annual affair and were a great attraction for all.

But then politics played its negative role. The tourist office was wound up , building of the Tourist Hostel was sold away to another department and the entire equipment, facilities and training and activities here in Gobind Sagar were shifted away to Pong dam lake. The state Water Sports Centre was also shifted along with the staff to the Pong dam reservoir. The proposed Rs 42 lakh Tourist Motel was also constructed elsewhere and Bilaspur was virtually written off as for as tourism was concerned except for a Tourist Café on the outskirts of the town which was allowed to continue, though under a private concern for some years, before it was again taken over by the government.

It was a pleasant surprise for everyone when the Chief Minister turned up to inaugurate a Rs 1.17- crore tourism promotion project "Wayside Amenities and Aquarium" a few days ago.

This Wayside Amenities and Aquarium is housed in a double-storeyed building constructed in a beautiful traditional hill style. It has a Rs 21.30-lakh aquarium with multi- colour and varied fish of interest to tourists and children alike. A tourists café, restaurant and tourist guide and information centre are also there. Apple and litchi juice etc would also be made available here along with arts and handicrafts from the state.

The Chief Minister said that Bilaspur, being at the heart of the state, cross , is the most suitable place for this facility. the Tourist café too is being renovated to meet the present day challenges  of tourism.

Shimla, June 15
The local municipal corporation has put the process of reforms on the fast track after the Centre made it clear that further instalments of funds for various projects under the Jawahar Lal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission will be released only if the process of structural and financial reforms is speeded up.

While the corporation had implemented a few steps in the direction, the major structural reform to decentralise its functioning and rationalisation of property tax had  been hanging fire.

A big stride has been taken to carry forward the reform process by setting up ward-level offices and committees to ensure their effective functioning. Offices have been set up for all 25 wards, which will be headed by a junior engineer, who will also function as executive officer of the ward-level committee.

However, the municipal councillors concerned will be the chairpersons of the committees, which will be responsible for all functions pertaining to water supply, sanitation, roads and other activities.

Joint municipal commissioner KK Sharma said all offices would be made online for the efficient functioning. In due course, the residents would be able to make payment of their bills at  these offices.

The ward-level committees have a major role in implementation of the dumper free Shimla campaign started by the corporation under which green and yellow dustbins have been supplied to residents for segregation of biodegradable and non-biodegradable wastes.

The rationalisation of property tax was a major issue and the corporation had appointed a consultant for mapping of properties to help prepare a geographical information system. The tax will be calculated taking into account the location and cost of construction and will be charged on the unit area basis.

However, the main objective of the mandatory reform is to improve the financial health of the corporation, as it will help increase the total income from property tax from the existing Rs 7.5 crore to over Rs 20 crore. The corporation has also started work on the project for construction of houses for urban poor, under which about 900 flats would be built at Dhalli and Shivnagar.

Bilaspur, June 15
Hariman Sharma of Panyala village in Ghumarwin subdivision, has earned name and fame by growing apples on a mass scale countering the claims of horticulturists that apple growing was the sole monopoly of the higher hills that receive sufficient snow to feed the fruit.

Hariman Sharma first planted a few apple plants in his land in 2002 and has not looked back since then. And the government acknowledged his contribution by nominating him as a member of the Board of Directors of Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar Horticulture and Forestry University, Nauni, Solan.

He was given “Prerna Shrote” (source of inspiration) award at the state-level Independence Day function by Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal along with a citation and a cash prize of Rs 50,000, district-level “Krishi Pandit” award by along with a citation and a cash prize of Rs 25,000, apart from getting honours for his “apple feat” from the state Agriculture Department, UCO Bank and the HP State School Education Board.

He has become a source of inspiration for hundreds of farmers and agriculturists of Bilaspur and other lower hill districts of the state, including Una, Hamirpur, Kangra, Mandi, Sirmaur and Solan , the areas which earlier could never dream of growing this juicy fruit. Hariman Sharma has so far provided expertise, knowhow and more than 12,000 plants from his apple nursery at Panyala, most of which are bearing plenty of juicy and tasty fruits.

Hariman is proud to have broken the false impression that apple can grow only in high hill areas, open up a new vista of prosperity for the farmers of lower hills.

He has grown more than 200 fruit bearing apple trees in his modern “Vatika” which also has 450 mango trees and 10 Kiwi fruit creepers, another fruit not known to be growing here.

Hariman says his best moment and reward for his strenuous efforts came when he presented a basketful of juicy and delicious apples to Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal on July 8 with the latter patting him for the great achievement.

Hariman Sharma is also credited with adopting the polyhouse technique for growing off-season and costly vegetables and exotic flowers in 1995.

Under this project, warehouses having 50, 100, 250 metric tonnes capacity would be constructed, five shopping complexes would be built, 35 sales centres and infrastructure would be created and Rs 1,159.60 lakh would be spent on capacity building.

For developing milk procurement facilities, two coolers and milk analysers and 1,000 large cans would be purchased, while Rs 49.40 lakh would be spent to train people involved in dairy profession.

Similarly, to promote herbal plantation, societies would be formed and facilities and training would be given to farmers and Rs 43 lakh would be spent to provide support to the societies working in this sector.

Protests organised by various government employees’ bodies to press their demands usually result in much inconvenience to the general public. However, aware of the resentment such acts cause the State Veterinary Officers’ Association came out with a novel idea and instead of striking work organised a blood donation camp in Shimla to voice its grievances.

The camp was a success with 80 persons donating blood. The association has been agitating in support of its demand for enforcement of the agreed parity between veterinary and medical officers in the matter of pay scales and allowances (see picture).

General secretary of the association Amit Mahajan lamented that in spite of the hue and cry being made by the contract veterinary officers, the government had remained unmoved and its indifferent attitude had compelled them to adopt coercive means to create pressure.

The association has been demanding uniform policy of regularisation for doctors and veterinary officers, who complete their educational qualification only after attaining the age of 25 years, to compensate them for late entry into government service. Besides, the contract veterinary officers should be granted non-practising allowance like their regular counterparts and contract medical officers.

vignettes
History of Shimla’s flora
by Shriniwas Joshi

The Flower Show is a part of the Shimla Summer Festival and attracts a number of tourists and denizens alike. It is organised annually by SAGES, Shimla Amateur Garden and Environment Society, and this year the society successfully held the 13th show. RSS Chauhan, founder president of the society, had introduced an innovative way of getting the show inaugurated, which tradition is still continuing. A day earlier a flower arrangement competition for the schools of Shimla is held and the student-participants winning the competition inaugurate the show. The students of Monal Public School, Sanjauli, had the privilege of doing the VIP job this year after winning the competition on Ralph Waldo Emerson’s quote-- ‘Earth Laughs in Flowers’. The visitors’ book is a measure for success or failure of an event. A remark by Dr Sanjeev Gulati was: “The best show under the summer festival for daytime creatures” speaks volumes for itself. An eight-year-old girl, Ridhi, gathered inspiration from the flowers to protect environment pollution in Ludhiana, her hometown. Prof Madan Sharma’s romance with poetry, after a glance at the show, danced in words in the visitors’ book. Former Governor of Punjab, Justice OP Verma, was thrilled with the exhibits. And why not ?. There were more than 300 exhibits coming from the individuals' treasures, besides the amazing display by five organisations.

The best exhibit of the show was a mop-head hydrangea planted in a huge pot, an entry of Hem Kunj, the residence of the Punjab Governor (see photo). Hydrangea, a native to southern and eastern Asia and south and North America, has two varieties. Mop-head flowers are large round flower heads resembling pom-poms. In contrast, lace-cap flowers bear round; flat flower heads with a centre core of subdued, fertile flowers surrounded by outer rings of showy, sterile flowers. Hydrangea, with times, has developed approximately 23 species with striking names like ‘All Summer Beauty’, ‘Nikko Blue’, ‘Madame Emile Moulliere’, ‘Davis Ramsey’, ‘Penny Mac’ etc.

The Shimla Flower Show has a long history starting from the British times. There are records of an exclusive flower fete at Annandale arranged in May, 1851. Since then flower shows are more or less a regular annual feature of this hill town. Shimla flora got recognition in the early 19th century when 250-year-old Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew in southwest London spread over 121 hectares with the largest collection of living plants received a collection from Shimla sent by the Countess of Dalhousie, wife of the Governor-General of India. She writes: “At Simla, we remained nearly seven months. This station is 7,500 feet above sea level in the region of Pinus Deodara and Rhododendron arboretum…. Here I found five species of pinus; at Mahassoo four of oak-all evergreen.” The other and the most important name associated with the flora of Shimla is that of Col Sir Henry Collett, who did yeoman’s service by introducing Shimla flora to the world by writing Flora Simlensis in 1902 that has 200 hand-sketches done by Miss M. Smith of the Kew Gardens. Henry Collett had opened a herbarium here but after his death all the plants were sent to Kew. These forerunners left their footmarks in the path, which is being treaded by many enthusiasts today.

Flowers, therefore, are not a new subject to the residents of Shimla and an appreciable sale of plants in the show showed the interest of the cultivators. SAGES does a wonderful job by organizing such shows, all it needs is a greater financial support from the government. 

Chamba, June 15
A project was launched last week for welfare and reform of prisoners in the local district jail at the initiative of Chamba Deputy Commissioner Devesh Kumar, who is also chairman of the Prisoners and Prison Welfare Association.

The basic objective is to reform the prisoners so that they join the mainstream of society, to earn livelihood for supplementing their family income, to utilize idle time constructively for healthy environment in jail premises and to learn skills for future self-employment after their release from jail.

There are approximately 65 inmates in the district jail of Chamba. A significant number of them are under trial under the NDPS (Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substance) Act. The oldest prisoner is a 68-year-old woman undergoing life imprisonment and the youngest is a 19-year-old youth under trial.

During a visit to the jail premises the DC observed that most of the prisoners were in their thirties and forties, most of them belonging to very poor families of backward and interior areas of Chamba district.

As they are idle with no set daily routine, a majority of them are keen to do any work to keep then busy. Prisoners, particularly in their twenties and thirties, are keen to pursue their studies.

The semiskilled prisoners can be further trained in weaving, knitting, spinning, tailoring, sewing of cloth carry bags etc. Other prisoners are ready to learn and do any activity to keep them busy in their daily routine to improve their skills.

The project envisages engaging the jail inmates in livelihood activities with the twin purpose of keeping them busy and supplementing their income as most of them are from poor families.

Sports like volleyball, badminton and chess will be introduced for the jail inmates. Some willing volunteers can do counseling or teach yoga and meditation for positive thinking.

Initially, Rs 1.50 lakh has been kept aside under the project for equipment, training and consultancy and for the purchase of raw material. The project will have linkage with the HP Mid-Himalayan Watershed Development Project for facilitating raw material and marketing of product, says PK Gupta, Divisional Watershed Development Officer of the HP Mid-Himalayan Project, Chowari, who would spearhead the project

To begin with, two handlooms had been set up in the jail and some prisoners have been engaged in the weaving of local costumes, including socks and cloth bags (carry bags). The carry bags can fetch a good price in the market nowadays as there is a complete ban on plastic bags in Himachal Pradesh. Other handicrafts have also been planned to be started in a phased manner. 

Shimla, June 15
They could well be separated by a few years, decades or even half a century apart, but the one single bond of being “Loretoites” is what binds them together and creates the bonhomie that is so effervescent.

It was again time for homecoming for alumni of Loreto Convent Tara Hall here recently who descended on their alma mater with excitement and exhilaration. The same old classrooms, library, assembly hall, stage and even the four-decade-old brown floral curtains, it all seemed so familiar irrespective of the passage of time.

The school was set up in 1892 by sisters of the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It was the vision of Mary Ward that translated into the best educational institutes for girls across the globe. Her firm belief that “women in time to come will do much” has proved be apt and accurate.

Having braved many ups and downs in its long eventful history, Loreto Tara Hall has come a long way. The boarding had to be closed down in 1976 to accommodate more day scholars and finally, the school was handed over to Sacred Heart in 1995 owing to certain problems. Much to the delight of all dedicated Loreto nuns were back in 2008 to restore the original standard and glory of the institute.

Notwithstanding the difficult times in the past, the institute still offers the best education and overall personality development to each child under the able guidance and nurturing of principal Anita M. Braganza and vice-principal M. Easterla Badwar.

The presence of sister Stephanie in the school is ever inspiring as she remains the guiding spirit for all.

For old students many of whom are excelling in the filed of medicine, administration, education, teaching and business, it is the education at Loreto, which has held them in good stead through the thick and thin of life.

Dr Bindoo Nangia, who is a serving doctor in the Army is proud to be a Loretoite and cherishes every moment spent in the school. “Whatever I have been able to achieve in my life, I completely owe to my schooling here at Loreto as it provides the perfect grooming and education for young girls to venture out into the big competitive world,” she says beaming at being back in the school.

“I am proud to be not just a former student of Loreto, but a teacher in the school which is credited with the perfect blend of education, values and personality development,” says Anu Gupta, a member of the teaching staff.

She says every new day in itself is a learning experience that brings out the best in both, teachers as well as students.

The absence of sister Anita at the reunion on account of her indisposition was felt by all as her vivacious and infectious presence was missing.

It was definitely a memorable evening as all sang the Loreto Chorus with the same zest and fervour with which they did while in school with the promise to meet again at the next homecoming, eagerly awaited by all.

Kullu, June 15
The cutting down of subsidised flights to Himachal Pradesh has hit the high-end tourism as tourists prefer to go to South Asian destinations rather than visiting the state. Air travel to Himachal remains expensive and outside the reach of the middle-class.

The HP Travel Agents Association (HPTAA), Manali, has written to Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel that the 38-seater Kingfisher has increased the one-way airfare for Delhi-Kullu flight from Rs 6,000 per person in 2009 to Rs 11,400. This increase is exorbitant and Kingfisher has no private competitor here, they say, adding that the government should restore subsidised flights to Kullu as was being done earlier.

Anil Sharma, president, HPTAA, says private airliners are reluctant to start their service from here because there are not many takers owing to high airfare. “Middle-class tourists find air travel beyond their budget and only corporate and highly paid executives can afford the expensive air service”.

He says airfare for Delhi-Kullu sector is about Rs 13,000 per person one way whereas for Delhi-Srinagar, it is about Rs 4,000. This amounts to discrimination, putting the Himachal tourism industry at disadvantage.

As a result, tourists prefer to visit South Asian destinations because airfare to these places is about Rs 16,000 with a return ticket plus three-day stay in a suitable hotel.

The association has urged that the DGCA should rationalise airfare and rope in budget airlines like Goair, Indigo and Spice jet. This will make air travel affordable. “Moreover the ministry should increase the frequency of Air India services by starting two flights daily, at least during the peak summer season”.

Besides, Air India has been operating its 40-seater aircraft from Delhi to Kullu only four times a week and the private MDLR airliner stopped its Delhi-Kullu flights in first week of October last year, rue operators.

Arun Sharma, director, tourism, has said restoration of the subsidised flights to Himachal has been a big issue. “The state has been taking up the matter with the Centre for a long time now”.

SH Zaidi, director-general civil aviation, said the DGCA would look into matter. “We enable private players a level playing field and encourage competition to break monopoly in air traffic operation in the country,” he asserted. Zaidi said they had solved the similar problem faced in Dehradun. “I have received no representation from Himachal so far,” he added.