Shimla, December 18
Acting on a petition filed by NGO People for Animals against the decision of the state government to allow farmers to kill wild animals, the Himachal Pradesh High Court today directed the state and Central Governments to file their reply within a week.

While issuing notices to the Principal Secretary, Forest and Environment, chief wildlife warden, the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest and the Animal Husbandry Board of India, a bench comprising Justice R.B.Misra and Justice Surjit Singh listed the matter for further hearing on December 27.

The court passed the order on a petition filed by the People for Animals for quashing the notification issued by the state on November 3, 2010, allowing the culling of wild animals. The petitioner termed the decision of the state as irrational and against the mandate of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

In its petition, the NGO stated that the state had allowed the wanton killing of wild animals, specifically wild boar, blue bull and monkeys, prompting hundreds of farmers to apply for permit from the wildlife authorities to kill the animals.

The petitioner further alleged that as per the notification, the chief wildlife warden of the state had directed all divisional forest officers and range officers to issue permit for shooting of crop-damaging animals within one day or preferably on the same day, which is illegal and against the provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act.

It further stated that more then 3,000 permits had been issued after the release of this notification. The NGO challenged the action of the state on the ground that Section 11 of the Act seeks to balance the protection of wildlife with the interest of the society when there was danger to human life or property, including standing crops.

Solan, December 18
With “Rose flower” being given as the official election symbol to various independent candidates across the state, confusion has been created as the BJP’s party symbol was “Lotus” and a common man is likely make a difference between the two symbols.

Convener of the BJP’s panchayati raj polls HN Kashyap said there were confusion in all 48 municipal committees across the state.

He said he would take up the issue with the Election Commission as a lesser-known person would not be able to distinguish between the two flowers and this could lead to mass shift of BJP votes in favour of the independent candidates.

Though an educated voter could identify between the two flowers and would cast his vote as per his preference, an illiterate man generally believes that flower was the party symbol of the BJP, rued another BJP leader.

This would mar the party’s prospects in places where the BJP enjoyed a stronghold and the independent candidates too were in the fray.

Even such cases have come to light where the independent candidates have protested against the grant of “Rose” as election symbol believing that their voters will fail to identify it and cast their votes in the BJP favour.

Such situation is being witnessed in almost all districts.

This is sure to impact the prospects of BJP candidates in Solan and Parwanoo as independents were contesting the polls for the post of chairman. Even in Paonta Sahib MC, the BJP is faced with such a situation.

Shimla, December 18
Pained at the lack of action against Virbhadra Singh in the corruption charges, his former party and Cabinet colleague Major Vijai Singh Mankotia today announced to test the power of Satyagrah by resorting to fast to see the Congress leader’s ouster from the Union Cabinet.

Addressing a press conference here, Mankotia, who had taken “sanyas” from politics three years ago, said in case there was still no action against Virbhadra Singh before the next court hearing scheduled for March 5, he would start a fast unto death at Dharamsala after that. He, however, added that he would also move the Supreme Court in the corruption cases faced by the former Chief Minister before March 5.

“I am surprised as to what is the compulsion or pressure on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that he has allowed Virbhadra Singh to continue in the Cabinet despite he being chargesheeted in a corruption case and out on a bail,” he quipped.

The former Congress leader, who joined the BSP before retiring from politics, also questioned the continuation of Virbhadra as Union minister taking policy decisions when he was himself facing serious charges. “I have written to UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, the Prime Minister, the Chief Justice of India, the Chief Minister, P.K. Dhumal and the Chief Justice of Himachal with all evidence, still there has been no action at any level,” he said.

Targeting Dhumal, he said the state BJP regime had adopted a very soft stand in the cases registered against Virbhadra Singh. “Had it not been for the information sought by me under the RTI, they would not have proceeded even this far,” he claimed.

Even though remaining non-committal on his return to politics, Mankotia said, “I also wish to see how many people who keep urging me to rejoin politics will come out in my support when I start my fast unto death as this will prove how sincere they are in their advice,” he remarked.

Shimla, December 18
With icy cold winds sweeping most parts of the state, there has been a further decline in the temperature, unusual for most towns at this time of the year.

Even though the local Meteorological Centre has indicated that the weather will remain mainly dry for the next four days, the manner in which there has been a decline in the night temperature, there could be snow this month.

With a very feeble western disturbance positioned above Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal, the higher reaches could experience snow and rain at isolated places.

The minimum temperature in Shimla was recorded at 2.7 degrees Celsius, which is 1.5 degrees below normal. The minimum temperature in Shimla yesterday was 4.4 degrees but today was unusually cold, forcing people to remain wrapped in warm clothing.

The temperature in most other parts of the state was also far less than normal this year. Sundernagar recorded a minimum temperature of minus 0.3 degrees Celsius, Bhuntar 0.3, Kalpa minus 3.2, Keylong minus 3.4, Dharamsala 4.4, Una 3.7, Nahan 6.3 and Palampur 4 degree Celsius. The temperature in most of these places is almost two to three degrees less than normal, raising hopes of early snow this year.

With chances of a white Christmas in the “Queen of Hills” are high, the city is witnessing a heavy tourist inflow. In fact, Christmas and the New Year is the busiest tourist season of the year when people from all over throng various destinations to take part in the festivities and gala events.

Hamirpur, December 18
Chief Minister PK Dhumal has asked academicians to take the useful scientific debates based on research to people to enable them to get benefited from such discussion.

Addressing delegates in the 55th four-day Congress of Indian Society of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics (ISTAM) in the auditorium of NIT here today, Dhumal said, “The ultimate goal of every scientific research is to put this to use of the people and it should be our endeavour to take the useful scientific debates to the grassroot level.”

He said, “Mathematics has played a key role in the development of civilization and the desire to move to heights has increased its importance in today’s world and mathematics and computers have become important tools for achieving this goal.”

He said the presence of eminent mathematicians like Prof PJ Pedley from Cambridge University, England, and other mathematicians from other parts of the world had given an opportunity to share the latest researches in this field and asked the NIT authorities to involve more students in such events to benefit them with experience of leading people of this field.

International president of the Society, Prof Pedley, who was the guest of honour in this congress addressing the gathering, said since mathematics was an important part of modern world and everyday life, such discussions were very important, especially for the young people who could get enriched from such discussions.

Una, December 18
Residents of Una have threatened an agitation in case the Railways goes ahead with its decision to stop Himachal Express, the only broad gauge train coming to the state.

Members of the Una Janhit Morcha in a memorandum submitted to the MPs from the state and the Chief Minister have alleged that the logic of the Railways to stop train due to fog from December 23 to January 31 is ridiculous.

Rajiv Bhanot, the convener of the morcha, while talking to The Tribune, said if the Railways stuck by its decision to suspend train, they would gherao the Una railway station. They are also planning to organise a protest rally in Una.

Solan, December 18
In a tragic accident, a junk dealer Manga Ram, who was the sole bread earner for his five kids, was killed when the cycle which he was riding was hit by a vehicle on late Thursday night on the Nalagarh-Ramshaher road.

The accident proved fatal for Manga Ram and he was killed on the spot. Though he was rushed to the Nalagarh-based first referral unit by some passersby, he was declared brought dead by doctors.

Manga Ram, who originally belonged to Kalka, had hired a room at Rakhghansot village on the Nalagarh-Ramshehar Road, and he was residing there with his five minor kids for the past few years.

The tragedy has orphaned the five children, aged between 2 and 8 years, and they have been left to fend for themselves at Rakhghansot village.

Being non-Himachalis, they will not be able to get any compensation from the state government due to the accidental death.

Locals are hopeful that some social organisation will come forward to adopt these children who were not even aware of what tragedy has befallen them.

Nurpur, December 18
Fifteen out of 46 candidates today withdrew their nomination papers leaving behind 31 candidates for the local Municipal Council (MC) polls for the posts of president, vice-president and nine wards.

According to information, there will be direct fight between the Congress and the BJP for the posts of president and vice-president. The Congress has fielded Krishna Mahajan and Yash Pal Soga for the posts of president and vice-president whereas the BJP has fielded Rajni Mahajan and Shiv Raj Chowdhary for the same posts. — OC

Kangra, December 18
The National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) at Kangra has decided to increase the reserved quota for state students to 20 per cent from next session. The decision has been taken recently by the institute.

Earlier, the reserved quota for the state students was 15 per cent. Now, out of 150 seats, 30 seats would be reserved for the state students.

“The decision will be applied to all NIFT institutes in the country where the state governments have been cooperating with the institute in its growth,” said Dinesh Kumar Rangra, director, NIFT, Kangra.

“We have started distributing the prospectus and the last date for submission of forms is January 10 and the date of entrance test has been fixed for February 20. The prospectus also carries information on increased seats for the state students,” the director said.

The institute will also come up with the Centre of Apparel and Textile Studies (CATS) soon. It is going to be first of its kind centre to be established in the country.

Kullu, December 18
Residents of the Gandhi Nagar and Shashtri Nagar of the town are a hapless lot due to unscheduled shutdown by the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board (HPSEB) here.

The areas remained without power for over two hours yesterday and the complaints in the office at municipal barrier, Shashtri Nagar, remained unattended.

The central complaint office at Dhalpur sub-station was unaware of any shutdown and confirmed that the power supply from their end was on.

Surprisingly, none of the senior officers were aware of any cut, showing “junior most staff switching off power supplies on their own”.

The officers said they would check why the electricity supply was not available.

The consumers complained that the power supply in these areas was always erratic. The complaint office at the Gandhi Nagar never attended to the telephone.

Linemen working at the complaint office said the area allocated to them was very big and they could not attend to all complaints as they remain on rectifying the faults from Badah to Dhalpur.

Another consumer said the HPSEB usually announced shutdown from 10 am to 6 pm almost every second week in the area but the consumers face unannounced cuts almost everyday.

The revenue loss to the electricity board might not had been considered by the authorities as it looked that there was no accountability of the staff and the officers.