Shimla, May 26
While the Centre has decided to set up a panel under Planning Commission Member Abhijit Sen to look into the immense wastage of foodgrain, former Union Food and Public Distribution Minister Shanta Kumar has come out with a practical solution having no financial implications to address the storage problem.

He has suggested that instead of allowing the procured foodgrain to rot in the open, government agencies should distribute six-month ration in one go in place of the existing system of monthly supply.

At present, over 20 crore families were being supplied ration and on an average 35 lakh tonne of foodgrain is distributed every month. By releasing six months quota, over 200 lakh tonne of foodgrain will be distributed, which means the creation of that much additional storage capacity in the existing warehouses. Further, the responsibility of storage will be shifted from the government agencies to the consumer.

The senior BJP leader has in a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh stated that the proposal could be immediately implemented and without any investment. It will save the expenditure of Rs 4,120 per tonne on storage being incurred by the Food Corporation of India (FCI).

The total annual saving to the FCI will come to Rs 1,400 crore. The funds thus saved could be utilised for providing storage bins free of cost to the families. The monthly ordeal of transporting and distributing the foodgrain across the country will be over.

Shanta Kumar lamented that the scheme formulated by him, while he was the minister for construction of warehouses in the private public partnership (PPP) mode, was not pursued by the UPA regime. Funds for the construction of 200 warehouses across the country were to be invested by the private parties and the FCI had only to make a commitment that it would hire the facility for storage of foodgrain for a definite period.

The total gap of the storage capacity in the country is estimated to be around 140 lakh tonnes. Since it is not possible for the state agencies to bridge the gap, the government has set up a committee to explore solutions by way of building silos for storage of foodgrain in the country.

Shimla, May 26
The newly appointed Vice-Chancellor of Himachal Pradesh University (HPU), Prof ADN Bajpai, today said he was in favour of delinking politics from education as teachers, who were drawing salary from the government exchequer, should not join any political party as it vitiated the academic atmosphere of any educational institution.

Addressing a press conference here today, Bajpai even said after studying the HP University Act, he would explore the possibility of bringing in a proposal before the government to prohibit teachers from aligning with political parties. “There is no place for personal prejudices based on political ideology, caste, creed or religion and anyone indulging in it could face strict action,” he warned.

Expressing unhappiness over the decline in the grading of HPU from the B++ to B grade, he said the only reason for this decline could be the lack of sincerity on part of teachers. He admitted that in some places, overindulgence in political activities vitiated the academic atmosphere.

“In my opinion teachers should avoid administrative responsibilities and concentrate more on research and academics for which they are being paid,” he opined.

“There is no place for violence in our society and when the common mission of the SFI, the NSUI and the ABVP is for student interest, then frequent clashes are not justified,” he said.

While spelling out his priorities, Bajpai said he was keen that results must be declared within 15 to 30 days of holding of examinations.

Palampur, May 26
A woman was killed and six others were injured when heavy rain, accompanied by high-velocity wind and hail storm, lashed upper and lower areas of the Palampur region last night causing extensive damage to fruit and other crops in the valley. Most of the rivulets of Palampur were in spate because of heavy rain in the high hills.

According to reports, a woman, who was crossing small rivulets near Sulaha, was washed away by the strong currents. Her body was recovered 1 km downstream. In another incident, six persons were injured when heavy rain and flash floods lashed their village near Nanao. All were referred to Tanda Medical College for treatment.

Besides, in Bhawarna, Sulaha and Paror areas, flood water entered many houses resulting in extensive damage. In Bhawarna water of the Kirpal Chand Kuhal entered several houses as it was blocked at many points. Local residents blamed the Irrigation and Public Department for poor maintenance of the kuhal.

Telecommunication services and power supply were also hit. In many parts region the power supply was restored this morning.

Talking to mediapersons here today, SDM, Palampur, Ashish Singhmar said necessary financial assistance was being given to the affected families. He said revenue officers had been asked to submit an estimate of the loss to his office immediately. The SDM also visited the affected villages to have spot assessment of the loss.

Shimla, May 26
The Lawrence School, Sanawar, today witnessed a record-making national flag-hoisting ceremony when a 30-ft x 20-ft Tricolour was unfurled atop a 100-ft-high mast.

The ceremony, held under the aegis of the Flag Foundation of India at the school’s Arun Khetarpal Stadium, was presided over by Lok Sabha MP Naveen Jindal. This was the 21st such monumental flag to be hoisted across the country and the first of its kind in Himachal Pradesh. It is believed to be the highest Indian flag atop a 100-ft-high mast on a hilltop in the world.

The school authorities thoughtfully selected the place dedicated to a distinguished alumnus who made the supreme sacrifice for the motherland for which he was awarded the Param Vir Chakra.

“The national flag is the greatest symbol of our country and we must respect it, love it and above all fly it to spread the message of peace, harmony, brotherhood and prosperity,” Jindal said, while addressing a gathering.

Headmaster Praveen Vasisht said the Tricolour served as a great source of inspiration for countless Indians, who made extreme sacrifices for India’s freedom.

Hamirpur, May 26
While nurses working on contract basis in the state have been given a 3 per cent annual increment since January 2011, contractual nurses in Hamirpur district have been denied this benefit due to procedural lapse on the part of the state government.

The government had taken a policy decision to grant 3 per cent annual increment to all contractual nurses since January 2011.

After this decision, the health authorities were instructed to make payment of salaries to these nurses on the enhanced pay bills along with arrears.

Though contractual nurses in other districts have been paid this increment, nurses working in Hamirpur district on contract have not been paid these.

Sources said the instruction for giving the annual increment should have been issued by the Finance Department but these had been issued by the Personnel Department.

As a result, 25 contractual nurses had not been given this benefit.

A nurse working here said, “We are getting fixed salaries without any other benefit and working round the clock and surprisingly the only increment is also not been given to us.”

The contractual nurses have met the district health authorities several times to release the enhanced salaries on the basis of this increment.

Finance Officer of the district Health Department Uttam Patial said, “The instruction to release the increment to contractual nurses should have been issued by the Finance Department, whereas this had been issued by the Personnel Department. We have taken up this matter with our director and it will be given shortly.” 

Solang Nullah (Manali), May 26
More than 870 m length of the 8.82-km-long Rohtang tunnel project has been constructed so far, but the German contractor firm is yet to resume work on the north portal from Sissu side in the snowbound Lahaul valley even after six winter months as the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) is yet to open the Rohtang Pass to traffic.

A high-powered committee of the Ministry of Defence led by its member SK Marwa inspected the Rohtang tunnel last week and expressed its satisfaction over the work progress which started on March 4, 2010, from the south portal from Dhundhi side here. But it has asked to resume work from the north portal side so that the Rohtang tunnel project keeps date with the August 2014 deadline for completion of the excavation of the tunnel.

Chief Engineer, Rohtang tunnel project, PK Mahajan said, “We have deployed the latest three-armed jumbo drilling machines imported from Austria to speed up the work. We have installed conveyors to transport muck out from the tunnel to keep the drilling work moving.”

Mahajan, who gave a presentation to the high-powered committee before the team inspected the tunnel work, said they had not bumped into big geological surprise so far. “We are crushing the big blocks into smaller ones by machines and transport them through conveyors outside the tunnel which save time,” he added.

He said the best quality estimated 1,50,7,601 cubic m of excavated muck would be reused in the tunnel. “The debris is being dumped at the dumping site and will be used for constriction of the Manali bypass,” he added.

But the German contractor firm is to reset site office and re-launch approach bridge across the Chandra river which has been destroyed by an avalanche in January-February.

He said the work was hit by 10-15 ft of heavy snowfall received this winter at the south portal and over 20-25 ft of snowfall was received at the north portal in Lahaul valley. “We have constructed 870 m tunnel out of which only 35 m length is from Lahaul side. But we are confident that we will toe the August 2014 deadline for completion of excavation work,” he added. Mahajan, however, said work from the north portal would be resumed in a week’s time soon after the Rohtang Pass was opened to traffic.

The Rohtang tunnel project aims at providing all-weather road connectivity to the landlocked Lahaul valley and will cut the distance between Manali and Lahaul by 46 km, reducing the travelling time by two-and-a-half hours.

Chamba, May 26
Adventure tourism in the Chamba valley is all set to lure water sports lovers with a three-day white water river rafting carnival in the Ravi. The carnival will begin on June 2.

Disclosing this here on Wednesday, Chamba Deputy Commissioner Devesh Kumar said the carnival was aimed at bringing the Chamba valley on the map of adventure tourism, adding that boating and kayaking had already been introduced in the Chamera reservoir, near Dalhousie and efforts were on to start additional activities and creating more amenities under the wayside amenities programme.

The carnival will be organised under the aegis of the District Rafting Association having three categories of competition - sprint, salalam and marathon, the DC informed.

On the directives of state Tourism and Civil Aviation Principal Secretary Manisha Nanda, a technical committee had also been constituted to finalise the stretches on the Ravi for commercial rafting. The committee would visit the banks of the Ravi to identify the locations. On the recommendations of the committee, the avenues of commercial rafting would generate employment to the local youth.

Dalhousie, May 26
The National Himalayan Nature Study-cum-Trekking Expedition’s seventh batch concluded at the youth hostel here today. As many as 79 school students, including girls in the age group of 10 to 15 years hailing from different parts of Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh, participated in the weeklong expedition.

Students saw the beautiful hills en route Dalhousie, Dainkund, Joth via Lakharmandi, Kalatop and back to Dalhousie. They also participated in various activities like rock climbing, river crossing, bird watching, drawing competition and trekking under the guidance of naturalist Kunal Joshi who accompanied them.

Presiding over the valedictory function of the expedition at the youth hostel, Dalhousie Hotel Association general secretary Vishal Anand, who was the chief guest, distributed medals and certificates to the participants.

In his keynote address, he said such treks enhanced human traits like national integration, cooperation and confidence in children and also instilled awareness towards nature and wildlife.

Constructed and commissioned in 1972 by the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, the youth hostel has been attracting youth to this picturesque hill station. Such programmes were started at Dalhousie by the Youth Hostels Association of India (YHAI) in 1993 and since then they have become added attractions among trekkers across the country. This is also contributing to the economical development of places adjacent to the Dalhousie-Chamba tourist circuit.

KULLU: The basic mountaineering course, adventure course and adventure camp conducted by the Atal Bihari Mountaineering Institute, Manali, concluded today.

Director of the mountaineering institute Capt Randhir Salhuria said 78 trainees, including five police personnel from Orissa, from various states of the country, attended the 28-day-long mountaineering course.

The graduation ceremony was organised at the auditorium of the institute. Capt Randhir Salhuria said the institute would conduct advance and basic mountaineering courses, exclusively for women, from May 30 to June 26.

Dharamsala, May 26
Residents of Ward No. 3 are forced to live under unhygienic conditions. The residents complain that the government is ignoring the area completely and nothing has been done on development grounds.

Dr Uttam Chand Kapoor, Associate Professor (retd), Government College, Dharamsala, who lives in the ward, raised the issue and said, “The condition at the Ward No. 3 is very unhygienic. A large number of families of labourers from Chhattisgarh reside there with no facility of toilets. Poor sanitation and sewerage are the main problem at the ward”.

Kapoor also added that the government or the authorities could have made provision of toilets from the common pool. They could also construct sulabh toilets for the labour class families living there. Along with making the living conditions better for the poor, this could save the environment and bring some development to one of the backward wards of the MC, Dharamsala.

Dr Kapoor also alleged that maximum number of the people belonged to the Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) and the government had shown no concern for their development at the ward. The roads were also in a bad shape and some of the these were lying incomplete for the past 20 years.

Meanwhile, ward member Sneh Lata agreed and said, “We know that the living conditions in our ward are bad, but we have been doing a lot to improve”. She said, “I have asked the landlords who have rented out accommodations to labourers to construct toilets and provide facilities to them”.

She said the ward was very big and one of the backward wards of the MC. The MC has asked the residents not to litter and some of them started constructing toilets for labourer tenants. The main problem areas are Gamroo, upper Gamroo and Khuled.

Nurpur, May 26
The Irrigation and Public Health (IPH) Department today swung into action to check the misuse of water at Chhatar and Kandor villages.

According to official information, a team led by junior engineer IPH Anurgah Sharma conducted surprise visits in a number of houses in these villages and seized two water-lifting pumps and disconnected one water connection at Chhatar.

The team also raided at Kandor village and took plastic pipes being used to water kitchen gardens.

Meanwhile, RK Mahajan, Superintending Engineer, IPH circle, Nurpur, exhorted the consumers to avoid misuse of water and added that the department would take strict action against violators.

Mandi, May 26
The anti-corruption crusade launched by Kangra BJP MP Rajan Sushant under the banner of the Baba Ramdev Swabhiman Anti-Corruption Yatra and the Himachal Adhikar Manch has stunned the ruling BJP as the Sangh Parivar remains a divided lot over the removal of Sushant. Some BJP leaders here are silent on his open revolt against the ruling government.

Dr Sushant attacked the BJP during his three-day tour to Mandi and Kullu. “By linking the name of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to legitimatise the benami deals will not hide their sins,” he charged.

But no BJP leader from Mandi and Kullu blasted Sushant for levelling these allegations. It’s not surprising as the disgruntled BJP leaders and the Sangh Parivar have their tacit support for him that has sent disturbing signals to the present regime, revealed insiders.

Though Mandi and Kulu Municipal Councils have a sizeable number of councillors, none has issued a statement against Sushant. There are indications that certain disgruntled councillors, who were denied tickets, have joined Sushant that can upset the applecart of the present regime, said the insiders.

Sushant said he would fight for the rights of Himachal in BBMB projects located in Mandi, Kangra and Bilaspur and would expose corrupt leaders under the anti-corruption campaign of Baba Ramdev in the state.

Media in charge BJP Pankaj Walia stated in a press note that Sushant’s charges were baseless as the state had progressed a lot under the present government. Private universities would make Himachal a hub of education, he added.