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A First
Nod to regular appointment of medical officers
Rigzin re-elected Tibetan Youth Cong chief
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HPU officers resent deviation from UGC pay scales
Centres to study climate change
Water Conservation
Rashtriya Kisan Vikas Yojna
Nathpa Jhakri may resume generation today
Help for Leh victims
Six years on, Kangra coop bank awaits recruitments
Oil tankers from the Leh region await reopening of the Manali-Leh highway near Bahang, about 4 km from Manali, on Monday. Photo: MC Thakur
Classes at IIT Mandi begin
Prof TA Gonsalves, director, IIT Mandi, interacts with students during the first classroom session in Mandi on Monday. Photo: Mahesh Chander Sharma
369 cartridges recovered
Water supply in Chamba disrupted, restored
BJP state executive meeting
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Renuka Dam to introduce ‘payment for eco-services’
Rakesh Lohumi Tribune News Service
Shimla, August 9 The allocation of funds has been made in accordance with the new guidelines framed by the government for the implementation of Catchment Area Treatment (CAT) plans under which at least 10 per cent of the total amount has to be spent on the PES to provide direct financial benefits to the community. The concept of PES has also been incorporated in the 775-MW Luhri hydroelectric project but it will take some time to reach the implementation stage. The department assigned the task of preparing a “scoping document” to the Winrock International, a non-government organisation, working in the areas of natural resources management, clean energy and climate change, which has provided blueprint for the conservation of ecosystem with the involvement of local people. The focus of various initiatives under the PES concept will be on improving water quality and discharge in various tributaries in the catchment by checking soil erosion and enhancing water retention. The measures will not only be confined to afforestation and check dams but also include change in land use and agrarian practices to help preserve and restore forest ecosystem by improving biodiversity, water sources and other natural resources. However, enhancing livelihoods will be the cornerstone of the PES to maximise benefits to villagers for which the strategy will be to meet the needs of the forest-dependent communities through improved non-wood forest produce and promoting eco-tourism. Additional Chief Secretary, forests, Avay Shukla said quality of water and discharge would be constantly monitored and payment to villagers be made only if there was a discernible improvement. Parameters and procedures for scientific monitoring of eco-system was being evolved with the help of the NGO engaged as consultant. To begin with a pilot scheme would be started in selected pockets and later extended to the entire catchment. The models, thus, evolved would be replicated in various other projects. Additional Principal Chief Conservator of forests JS Walia said, “The project authorities will provide Rs 100 crore for CAT plan out of which Rs 10 crore will be paid as PES to stakeholders, which can be individual farmers or organised groups who carry out initiatives to improve the quality of water and overall environment. If financial benefits flow directly to local people they will come forward to adopt eco-friendly farm practices and preserve green cover and environment.”
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Nod to regular appointment of medical officers
Shimla, August 9 Recruitments in various categories of staff in different government departments, including medical officers, were being made on contract basis for the past quite sometime and only two months ago the government framed policy for their regularisation. The decision could have wider implications as other categories, particularly veterinarians, would also clamour for regular appointment on the same pattern. The Cabinet, which met under the chairmanship of Chief Minister PK Dhumal, gave nod for recruitment of 150 medical officers on regular basis and also decided to disburse location-based incentives to 63 contractual medical officers on the analogy of Rogi Kalyan Samitis. They will now be entitled to an incentive of Rs 3,000, Rs 6,000 and Rs 9,000 per month depending on categorisation of the institution in which they are deployed. The Himachal Pradesh Private Educational Institutions’ (Regulatory Commission) Bill, to be introduced in the monsoon session of the state Assembly, provides for setting up three-member regulatory authority to regulate functioning of private sector educational institutions, including universities, and enforce norms prescribed by various regulatory bodies. It will have power to impose penalty for contravention of its regulations and directions that can range from Rs 1 crore to Rs 5 crore. It approved the State Judicial Officers (Pay Allowances and Conditions of Service) Act Amendment Bill and the State Prohibition of Cow Slaughter (Amendment) Bill. It also granted permission to create and fill 10 posts of warder in the Prison Department. It decided to permit Rogi Kalyan Samitis to operate proposed Jan Aushadhi Stores by outsourcing dispensing staff at its own level. It decided to rationalise remuneration structure of the advocate-general and other tenure functionaries in his office and gave sanction to the Police Department to purchase of 10 light motor vehicles. |
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Rigzin re-elected Tibetan Youth Cong chief
Dharamsala, August 9 Former general secretary Dhondup Lhadar was voted vice-president and Tenzin Chokey was elected as general secretary. Chokey and Tenzin Dolma and Tenzin Yangzom were the three female members elected to the 10-member executive body. The other five members of the executive body include Tenzin Norsang, Kunchok Yarphel, Penpa Tsering, Jigme from Varanasi and Yeshi Tharchin from Dehradun. In the electoral process, 10 executive members are nominated and voted by the attending members. These members elect then make nominations for the posts of president, vice-president and general secretary from among themselves, which are then submitted to the general membership for one more round of voting. Despite Rigzin’s request not to elect him for another term, he got 77 votes and was elected. In his acceptance speech, he said it was the hope and unwavering spirit of the Tibetans in Tibet that motivated him to accept and continue for another term. He pledged to put
every effort into regaining Tibet’s independence. Founded in 1970, the Tibetan Youth Congress is the largest NGO in the exile Tibetan community seeking complete independence for Tibet. Over 170 executive members from 47 regional chapters based in Bhutan, India and Nepal, and members representing chapters in the US, Canada, Taiwan and Europe took part in the seven-day general body meeting that began on August 2. |
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HPU officers resent deviation from UGC pay scales
Shimla, August 9 Representative of the non-teaching employees in the Executive Council Waryam Singh Bains pointed out that pay scales of administrative officers notified by the university were not only contrary to the orders of the high court but also in deviation from the past practice. These officers were covered under the University Grants Commission (UGC) pay scales as per decision of the Executive Council and were given these scales accordingly in 1973, 1986 and 1996 during pay revision. He said the incumbents who were already promoted in the scale of pay as per provision of recruitment and promotion rules by the competent authority and were being paid the in receipt of un-revised UGC pay scales were required to be given the corresponding revised scales. The council should take action in the matter and remove the anomaly being created after revision of the latest pay revision effective from January 1, 2006, to avoid unnecessary litigation. Departure from set pattern caused problems in maintaining hierarchy of the administration with a number of categories drawing more pay than their superiors. Besides, the claim lodged for refund of 80 per cent of the amount paid as arrears with the UGC would be admitted if and only revised pay scales were implemented in toto.
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Centres to study climate change
Mandi, August 9 The institute has tied-up with the Centre for Mathematical Methodology and Computer Assimilation (CMMCA), Bangalore, to set up an array of 14 high-tech climate stations in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim. According to the scientists, summers are larger in the Himalayas, vegetation is shifting upwards, local average temperatures are rising, cloudbursts and flash floods are striking even in cold deserts like Leh and glaciers are receding and melting fast. “But we attribute these to the climate change and global warming, but do not know exactly how it is impacting and what consequences it will for local tribal communities, snow-fed rivers, hydropower projects coming up in a big way in the Himalayan region”, they revealed. These climate towers will be located at base of the Siachin glacier in Kargil, Leh , Kothi in Kullu valley, Almora in Uttarakhand, Garhwal, Sikkim and Arunchal Pradesh, sources revealed. Each towers costs Rs 80 lakh to Rs 1.40 crore depending on the sensors it has. The 34-meter-high tower has sensors that record movements of wind currents, rainfall and snowfall, humidity and even underground soil moisture, the scientists said. “The data can be used to predict weather in the areas”. GBPIHED director LMS Palni said: “The idea behind the climate towers is to study the phenomenon of climate change and climate shift in the Himalayas as there is no sufficient scientific data available to know the exact magnitude of the climate change and global warming in the high mountain region”. Palni said they would record area-specific data on wind currents and velocity, rainfall and snowfall, humidity and even underground soil moisture for 5-6 years. “Once we have this data, we will be able to predict the climate shift and its impact in the Himalayan region, including cold deserts of Leh-Ladakh and Lahaul-Spiti”, he said. Palni added that they had set a climate tower at Almora and 13 other towers would be set up within a period of three years.
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Agri varsity model seeks govt attention
Lalit Mohan Tribune News Service
Dharamsala, August 9 However, according to agriculture experts, about 80 per cent area of the district faces acute shortage of drinking and irrigation water. In certain regions of the district, farmers have given up agriculture due to shortage of irrigation water. A model for conserving rainwater developed by Palampur Agriculture University (PAU) can offer solution to at least the drinking water problems of the district. Experts said, “We selected the low-lying areas on the campus where rainwater from adjoining areas generally gather. We then widened the area and found water in the area after rain. However, initially a problem was faced as most of the water went underground in a short time. Thereafter, we used plastic sheets at the bases of ponds which prevented water loss. The water gathered in the ponds can be used for irrigation purpose for several months.” If farmers develop similar models in their respective areas, they can overcome the shortage of irrigation water at least in winter season. This year farmers of lower hills lost about 80 per cent crop in Una district due to prolonged draught in winter season. According to sources in the Agriculture Department, the loss amounted to Rs 42 crore just in Una district. Though the university has successfully developed models, they till date remained limited to the campus only. The models have not moved to field for the benefit of farmers despite the fact that they are cost effective and environment friendly vis-à-vis the planned government schemes of irrigation and digging deep tubewells that involve investment worth crores. The National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) that has now been implemented in the entire state can help carry the models of water conservation for irrigation to the field. According to Kangra Deputy Commissioner KK Pant, they can use 40 per cent component under NREGS for procurement of material. The said component can be used for procuring plastic sheets to be laid at the base of ponds. He also assured to take up the matter with the government and university for taking the technology to the fields. The said models for conserving rainwater for irrigation are simplest form of measure that can be used for helping farmers of lower areas of the state. With the prevailing rainy season in the region, it is high time that the model is carried in the fields and tested.
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Selection of beneficiaries under lens
Dharam Prakash Gupta Tribune News Service
Hamirpur, August 9
About a lakh of these machines (about 6,000 in every district) are to be given to the farmers on 75 per cent subsidies by paying 25 per cent against its cost of Rs 20,000. Under this scheme, the farmers involved in cattle rearing are will be selected to provide the machines and lists of such farmers are being prepared in each district. Though about 6,000 farmers have been shortlisted by the Agriculture Department for providing machines at subsidised rates but eyebrows are being raised over selection of the farmers. Many of them are grudging lack of publicity at lower levels to make farmers aware about the scheme and thereby denying them opportunity to draw this benefit. An elected representative of the Zila Parishad alleged: “It seems the pick and choose policy is being adopted by the department as the lists are being prepared in clandestine manner since no publicity about this scheme has been made at the lower level.” Many farmers have urged the government to prepare the lists after involving panchayat and other elected representatives so that all deserving farmers could get the machines on subsidised rates. Director of the Animal Husbandry Department BC Bisht said, “Though lists have been prepared, but there is no question of adopting pick and choose policy in the selection of the beneficiaries and farmers who are desirous of getting the machines could still include their names in the list through their nearest veterinary hospital.”
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Nathpa Jhakri may resume generation today
Shimla, August 9 The level of silt in the river came down to 8,000 ppm (parts per million) from 16,000 ppm yesterday but it is still higher than the permissible limit of 4,000
ppm. The discharge came down to 1,500 cumecs which is close to normal monsoon level. The Sutlej Jal Vidyut Nigam authorities hope to resume generation tomorrow as there has been no rain in the catchment over the past 24 hours. Meanwhile, movement of traffic in the apple belt improved slightly and over 950 trucks of apple left the state for various markets. Horticulture Minister Narender Bragta reviewed the arrangements for apple transportation at a high-level meeting. He directed the district administration, police and PWD to ensure smooth flow of vehicular traffic. He said he was himself reviewing the arrangements for apple transportation and road maintenance. He asked the Superintendent of Police and Chief Engineer,
PWD, to personally visit the area from time to time to take stock of the situation. He also set up a team headed by the Deputy Commissioner, Shimla, for ensuring availability of trucks. He said till date more than 65 lakh apple boxes had been sent to various markets. |
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Help for Leh victims
Kangra, August 9 This was decided here today in a meeting where senior functionaries of the kendra from the states of Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh participated.
Parveen Dobhalkar, joint general secretary, Vivekananda Kendra Kanyakumari, announced that in the first phase Rs 5 lakh would be transferred to the Himachal Vibhag for purchase of the essential commodities and blankets for the cloudburst victims. He asked the authorities to extend help to the needy on war footing. The body also decided to seek help from the civil and military authorities of Jammu for air lifting the articles to
Leh. Parveen said that Kendra workers from Kangra and Jammu branches would go to Leh personally to distribute goods among the victims there. Help has been sought from senior geologist from Jammu Gian Chand Sanhotra to provide free consultation to the victims and suggest new methods of rehabilitation so that during such calamities the loss of property and life was minimum.
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Six years on, Kangra coop bank awaits recruitments
Hamirpur, August 9 In 2006, applications were again invited for filling posts in the bank and about 30,000 applicants had applied but the further process of recruitment was not initiated.Since the KCCB management is in the dire need of staff and as per bank sources hundreds of its employees will retire by 2012 and about 800 vacancies will be created, the bank is making serious efforts to fill the posts. One of the technical problem is implementation of recommendations of the Vaidyanathan Committee about future recruitment in all banks and Himachal is one of the two states that has to implement these recommendations in the country.
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Manali-Leh road still closed, hundreds stranded
Manali, August 9 July-August are the peak months of tourist season as travellers go to Leh and Ladakh from
Manali. Some of them are changing their travel plans and want to visit the Spiti valley
instead of going to Leh and Ladakh. Most of these tourist have a preplanned itinerary, pre-booked flight tickets
and now they are finding it difficult to reschedule their plans. Though the Manali-Kaza road has reopened for vehicular traffic, road from Kinnaur to Spiti is still closed. Most of the tourists want to go via the Manali-Spiti-Kinnaur route as part of the Buddhist culture tour. The situation is adversely affecting the business of the tour operators and they are keenly awaiting for the roads to reopen in the Kinnaur valley. |
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Classes at IIT Mandi begin
Mandi, August 9 The students and faculty had a busy first day on the temporary campus. Director, IIT Mandi, Prof TA Gonsalves had a series of meetings with the faculty and other staff members. He also urged the students to maintain high global standards of the IITs. The director also stated that the IIT would continue its classes in the transit campus till the new campus at Kamand near Mandi comes up. |
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369 cartridges recovered
Hamirpur, August 9 After receiving information from villagers, the police carried out a thorough search and recovered 369 cartridges and an old machine gun. He said the ammunition bore make of 1965 and was perhaps hidden there during a war but the police is investigating into the matter. |
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Water supply in Chamba disrupted, restored
Chamba, August 9 According to officials, the supply was affected as a sequel to the damage to the main pipeline at the origin point in Jadera area. But with the constant efforts of engineers and technical staff, the pipeline was repaired and the water supply resumed.
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BJP state executive meeting
Shimla, August 9 Party spokesperson Ganesh Dut said besides taking stock of the current political situation the meeting would also discuss the future programmes to be undertaken by the party in the state. Chief Minister PK Dhumal, national vice-president Shanta Kumar and other senior leaders would attend the meeting.
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Mandi, August 9
