|
|
|
|
pollution from JP and Ambuja cement plants in Nalagarh industrial belt
Forest mafia on free run in Kullu areas
|
|
|
PWD serves notices on 106 encroachers
Consumers scoff at frequent hike in cement prices
Development projects hang fire in Palampur
Chamba trekkers visit Saach Pass on Nano
Bifurcate functions of Horticulture Dept
|
|
pollution from JP and Ambuja cement plants in Nalagarh industrial belt Ambika Sharma
Solan, March 15 It was interesting to note that the board had allowed such cement plants when it lacked the system to monitor their pollution levels thus exposing the people to health hazards. The plants, too, had failed to abide by the conditions laid in their own environment impact assessment reports where they were suppose to minimise air pollution by installing specialised equipments. The whole exercise to take air samples by the board seems to be an eyewash as not only the units shut had down their operations a day prior to ensure pollution-free air sampling, but also ample water was sprinkled around the plant premises a day before the board officials had to take air samples to ensure minimal pollution. Though the board on its own had failed to own responsibility and take routine air samples, it was after a local NGO Himparivesh and Community Environmental Monitoring Campaign released the report of air samples that it woke up to take air samples last week. The samples were analysed by Chester Labnet, an American laboratory. The residents, however, noticed a flurry of activities at JP's Cement Grinding and Blending Unit and some of the stone crushers at Bagheri village just a day before the sampling where efforts were being made to minimise air pollution. Since the report had claimed the presence of hazardous heavy metals in the air thus increasing the incidence of disease like cancer, kidney problems, etc., the board had ordered immediate air sampling. Darshan Singh, pradhan of the Bagheri Gram Panchayat, said they observed water sprinklers at JP Cement plant working overtime a day before the board decided to take air samples and the plant was shut down in an attempt to bring down the pollution level after that last week. An air pollution sampling machine was also placed in Bagheri village which was later removed on the insistence of villagers as the pollution emitting plant was not found functioning hence the sampling machine would have failed to record any worthwhile result. While terming this as an attempt to discredit the findings of the NGO, its president Jagjit Singh said the board was trying to save its skin by conniving with the unit managements to create a pollution-free atmosphere that will only last till the pollution sampling machine was working. He added that: “We apprehend that the board will initiate a round of air sampling to disprove the findings of our study. This will be done during a period when the pollution mitigation equipment will be functional in the two units and once the sampling devices are removed, the air pollution will come back to its normal level”. Doubting the board’s intension of collecting worthwhile samples, NGO’s general secretary Balkrishen Sharma said: “The board has used high volume sampling machine for testing rather than using low volume samplers as the latter are less affected by wind direction and closely reflect the level of pollution that a human lung is exposed to”. Ajit Singh and Khemender Singh from the NGO have asked the board to undertake pollution sampling in collaboration with the local people so that samples were taken from those places where the incidence of pollution was higher. In the absence of such a coordinated action, pollution sampling by the board was likely to produce reports of doubtful nature. The board officials, however, said they had now procured filters required for the sampling and such sampling was only required for specific plants that emit heavy metals like lead, nickel, etc.. The board had been routinely sampling the air for other impurities as per the norms laid down by the Central Pollution Control Board.
|
|
Forest mafia on free run in Kullu areas
Naggar-Dhama (Kullu), March 15 From the upper reaches along the Naggar-Jana and Dhama-Saniogi road, the work of the thriving forest mafia is very much visible. Poor villagers are allegedly being used as a conduit for smuggling timber. The forest mafia has been thriving as there is no forest check post between Naggar and Manali and between Naggar and Kullu. This has given a free run to the mafia to smuggle deodar timber to sell it to customers making cottages, houses, hotels and resorts in the Kullu valley, mainly on the left bank of the Beas. Elderly people of the area say green cover in the Jana-Saniogi belt has depleted drastically since 1980s. Tourism infrastructure and apple orchards are being set up at the cost of the green cover, they reveal. There is no construction activity in the Jana, Dhama and Saniogi areas and most of the timber is sold to private builders in the lower valley. The vigilance team raided the area recently and detected stumps of 12 big deodar trees, besides freshly cut 95 small trees in the Nathan-Dhama forest beat. Over the years, the deodar cover has thinned drastically. The smugglers even cut the tree stumps close to the ground to avoid detection. Certain ambitious encroachers have even cleared the forests to make way for apple orchards. The illicit felling gained momentum in the area soon after the government put a ban on green felling in the state after a high court ruling that stopped the age-old practice of TD to the right holders. The illicit felling has exposed poor monitoring by the field staff, the vigilance found. Virender Sharma, SP, Vigilance, said forests had been cleared to make way for apple orchards. “We will comb the area counting as to how many trees have been felled in this belt. We have already lodged an FIR under section 30 of the HP Specific Corrupt Practices Act against forest officials for their negligence in this case”. Dr PK Sharma, conservator of forest, Kullu, said he had asked the DFO to submit the fact-finding report on the Naggar range. “If any complacency is found, the department will take action,” he added.
|
|
PWD serves notices on 106 encroachers
Nurpur, March 15 The department authorities have served notices to 106 encroachers in the first phase from Raja Ka Talab to Rehan town on the Jassur-Talwara state highway. The encroachers have been asked to remove structures on the PWD land within 15 days otherwise the department would swing into action to remove their structures. The HPPWD has identified 224 encroachments between Raja Ka Talab to Rehan and 94 encroachments alone were enlisted in Rehan town. The encroachers have constructed shops, houses and raised kiosks on the PWD land. In this connection, AK Abrol, executive engineer, PWD division, Nurpur, said the notices had been served under the Road Infrastructure Act (RIA)-2006. He asserted that the department would not tolerate any roadside encroachment. It is notable that this Act had delegated requisite powers to the PWD for evicting roadside land from the clutches of encroachers.
|
|
Consumers scoff at frequent hike in cement prices
Hamirpur, March 15 The price of a cement bag has been increased at least six times within the past two months by the cement manufacturers leaving the consumers fuming. A consumer said: "A cement bag sold at Rs 278 per bag about two months ago is now being sold at Rs 307 per bag registering an increase of Rs 29 per bag during this period". "While the price of a cement bag had been increased six times within two months by the cement manufacturing companies, the price of a cement bag was once again increased from Rs 5 to Rs 7 on February 22," he added. It is learnt that the cement companies are mulling a further increase from Rs 8 to Rs 10 per bag in the first week of March. The consumers had already been resenting a difference in the price of cement sold by the companies in the state and outside the state. While cement manufactured in the state is being sold at higher price by the manufacturers, the same is being sold at lower price in Punjab. The consumers blame the cement manufacturers and the state government for selling the cement manufactured in the state at higher price. Even cement dealers are quite upset over the frequent and abrupt increase in the price of cement. Peeved at this, Kishan Chand, a member of the Consumer Forum, said: "Though the cement manufacturers are making the full use of natural resources of the state and drawing all benefits from the state government like tax exemption, cheap electricity, etc., they are cheating the consumers of the state by selling the cement at higher price and we would move the consumer court to seek justice". Ramesh Dhawala, Food Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister, said: "In fact, fixing the price of cement does not come under the purview of the state government. However, I will enquire into this matter".
|
|
Development projects hang fire in Palampur
Palampur, March 15 A solid waste garbage disposal plant, which was urgently needed in the town, remained in official files for over five years. The Centre had already transferred funds amounting to Rs 80 lakh to the local Municipal Council, but because of the non-availability of land, the project could not come up. Now, the land is available with the council, but it is waiting for clearance from the state government to go ahead with this project. The Urban Development Department in Shimla is yet to approve this project. Therefore, no final decision could be taken till date. The council is also waiting a VIP for laying the foundation stone of the project. In the absence of a garbage disposal plant, sanitary condition of the town and its adjoining areas has gone from bad to worse. Heaps of garbage are not removed for days together as the Municipal Council has no garbage dump in the town. Likewise in the panchayat areas, panchayats also do not have garbage disposal facility. Though the issue was also raised before Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal during his visit to the town, no decision was taken on the project. Thakur Balwant Singh, president, Palampur Municipal Council, said: "As and when the state government will accord its sanction, the council would go ahead with the project". Another important project of the town, a multi-storey parking project is also waiting for clearance from the government. Its foundation stone was laid by Chief Minister PK Dhumal on June 8, 2008. Almost three years have passed and the government could not finalise who would take up the construction work on this project, either the Municipal Council or some other agency of the government. Ever month, over 300 vehicles are registered in the town. At present, there is no sufficient space for parking of vehicles. Most of the vehicles are parked on the roadside resulting in frequent traffic jams. Information gathered by The Tribune from Shimla revealed that in the past two years, the government could not get even a single company who could execute this project under "built operate transfer" (BOT) basis. Tenders were floated many times, but no one came forward to execute this project on the BOT pattern. Over Rs 55 lakh sanctioned by the Centre were lying unused in the bank account of the council for the past three years. Even after over six years, Common Administrative Complex known as "Mini Secretariat" is yet to come up in the town. The foundation stone of this project was laid in 2005 by the then Chief Minister of the state Vir Bhadra Singh. Initially, it was a time-bound project of the state government and was to be completed within three years. This administrative complex, when completed, would house all government offices scattered in the town in one building with an aim to avoiding inconvenience being caused to public who visit these offices daily. At present, most of the government offices like Sub-Divisional Police Office, Welfare Office, Assistant Registrar Cooperative Societies, Assistant Director Fisheries, Executive Engineer HPSEB and Weight and Measures do not have their own accommodation and they are functioning from rented buildings. Former MLA and senior Congress leader Brij Butail, who was instrumental for getting this project to the town, said advance budgetary provisions were made by the Congress government to complete this project in three years, but with the early Assembly elections the project could not be completed in the Congress rule. At present, 90 per cent of the building had been completed. Only, internal finishing of the building was left, which would take another six months, he added.
|
|
Concern over fast food intake
Concerned over the unhealthy food habits, which are making children prone to a host of diseases, Shimla-based NGO Ashadeep has called for the creation of an "exclusion zone" to keep fast food vendors away from educational institutions, particularly the schools. President of Ashadeep Sushil Tanwar suggested that no fast food joint should be allowed within a radius of 100 metres from schools to promote healthier lifestyles among children. Fast food was the major contributing factor leading to childhood obesity, which ultimately leads to diabetes, hypertension, coronary heart diseases and other related problems. It was the latest assault on nation's childhood. He has urged the school authorities and the state government to take effective steps to combat the fast food menace by prohibiting the sale of such eatables in the campus canteens and the area around. Several studies had established a clear link between obesity in students and the easy availability of fast food in and around schools. Dr Jitinder Mokta, a diabetes specialist at Indira Gandhi Medical Collegel, also underlined the need for creating awareness to tackle diabetes that was fast spreading in the state. He blamed poor eating habits as a major factor for the soaring obesity rate and it was a serious issue at as the spread of disease could shorten the lifespan. He said chances of developing diabetes among children who took fast food regularly were more than twice compared to those who did not. Mokta urged women to do their bit in inculcating healthy food habits amongst their children and the family as a whole. The growth of diabetes and heart disease among young people both in urban and rural areas was assuming the form of an epidemic. He emphasised the need for a mandatory screening test for diabetes after the age of 40. Afghanistan in pics
Exhibitions displaying various forms of art have become a common feature at Gaiety Theatre in Shimla ever since the historic structure was renovated about two years ago. The last week saw two slightly different events - a philately exhibition organised by the Department of Posts and a display of works by budding photographers from strife-ravaged Afghanistan (See photo). The photographic exhibition was special as it showcased the effort of 20 young boys and girls who were provided training in the art by the Canadian authorities. The photographs brought to the fore how the people of the disturbed land were coping with violence, which had become an integral part of life, and trying to lead a normal life. The pictures showed children, artisans and people from different walks of life engaged in routine chores under the shadow of violence. There were some breathtaking landscapes too which unfolded the scenic splendour of the mountain desert.
Organised jointly by the Consulate-General of Canada and the State Department of Language, Art and Culture, the exhibition was inaugurated by Khushi Ram
Balnatah, BJP MLA from Rohru. As many as 12 stamp collectors participated in the district-level philately exhibition. In the senior category Major Ritu Kalra bagged the first prize, followed by Dheeraj Gupta and Vineet
Singha. In the youth category, Jatin Jamwal's collection was adjudged the best, followed by those of Aditya Gangotra and Bhumika Sharma. Chief Postmaster-General SC Jarodia was the chief
guest.
Dogra Regiment recruitment
The Dogra Regiment is recruiting boys in the 11-16 age group in its Boys Sports Company to prepare them to participate in the national and international sports competitions. Group commander of the company, Capt Amarjeet Singh, said trials for the recruitment would be held at Sujanpur Tihra on March 28. The next phase of the selection process would be completed at the Dogra Regiment Centre at Faizabad (UP) from May 2 to 4. The boys in the age group of 11 to 14 years who have passed the 6th standard would be given preference. The students belonging to the Dogra community and those from the areas represented in the Dogra Regiment who have been members of the junior or sub-junior teams at the national, state and district levels in the hockey, handball and volleyball and have participated in competitions at these levels are eligible. (Contributed by Rakesh Lohumi and DP Gupta)
|
|
|
Chamba trekkers visit Saach Pass on Nano
Chamba, March 15 The two began their journey from Chamba on October 8 last year. They drove through the treacherous Himalayan terrain and passed through an adventurous route full of glaciers, gushing nullahs, steep roads, waterfalls downhill the Chandrabhaga river in Pangi. The trekkers drove extensively throughout the valley, visiting all monasteries on highlands of Pangi and rest houses of the British era, including Cherry bungalow and Todd bungalow, besides forest rest houses at Killar, Mindhal, Shor and Dharwas. "During our 15-day trip, Nano was the talk of every village and town. Children used to chase and shout 'Nano Nano'", narrate the trekkers. It was hard to believe for villagers to see such a small car making it to Saach Pass at an altitude of 4413 m. But it was the determination of Rajesh and Navneet that made the journey possible. Even Tulsi Ram, Vidhan Sabha Speaker, who during his tour to the Pangi valley witnessed the event, was surprised to see Nano at Saach Pass.
|
|
Bifurcate functions of Horticulture Dept
Shimla, March 15 President of the confederation Vinod Kumar said that the lower hill areas of the state had a vast scope for kinnow, mango, litchi strawberry and other subtropical fruits but not much was done to promote these varieties as the main focus of the department had been on apple. The agro-climatic conditions in Una, Kangra, Hamirpur, Bilaspur, Mandi and parts of Solan and Sirmour were suitable for growing subtropical fruits like Punjab but the state was lagging far behind. He said that this anomalous situation could be rectified only by separating the departmental setup for the lower hill areas so that proper policies could be framed and implemented to propagate and promote the hitherto neglected fruit crops. It was a pity that despite being a horticulture state, Himachal was not doing well in this sector whereas it was being conferred awards for good performance in the field of agriculture, which was quite paradoxical. The confederation also demanded an in-depth probe into the purchase and supply of subsidised fungicides and insecticides to the fruit growers since 1985.
|
|
||
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
Himachal diary
Trekkers from this mountainous region, Rajesh Charak and Navneet Chowfla, recently made it to Saach Pass on a Tata Nano through the rugged terrain of the Pangi valley.
The two began their journey from Chamba on October 8 last year. They drove through the treacherous Himalayan terrain and passed through an adventurous route full of glaciers, gushing
nullahs, steep roads, waterfalls downhill the Chandrabhaga river in Pangi.