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Air pollution alarming in Baddi area
Art lovers condole Hussain’s death
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Projects fail to move beyond foundation stones in Palampur
Vignettes
Dhumal govt failure on all fronts: HPCC chief
Himachal Diary
MNREGA project to destroy wild weeds
Record power generation at Nathpa Jhakri project
Villagers demand shifting of liquor vend
Chamba to get school of Pahari painting soon
Manjri Garden adds to Chamba’s beauty
Dr Sharma gets first D Lit in music
300-yr-old kuhal turns into garbage dump
Corruption rampant in state, says Virbhadra
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Air pollution alarming in Baddi area
Baddi, June 14 These chemicals which also include cancer emitting carcinogens have enhanced the risk of locals acquiring cancer. Besides, VOCs target eyes, skin and respiratory system, central nervous system, liver, kidneys, reproductive system and even the cardiovascular system, blood, heart and the peripheral nervous system. The report, a copy of which is available with The Tribune, was released by the CPCB in March this year and sent to the State Pollution Control Board for requisite action. The state board had earlier requested the CPCB to conduct the air sampling after a similar air sampling conducted last year by local environment action group Him Parivesh in association with Chennai-based Community Environment Monitoring (CEM) had detected the presence of 11 noxious chemicals. The presence of VOCs in the CPCB’s report had corroborated the findings of the CEM’s report. As per the CPCB’s report, 10 VOCs - benzene, toluene, m-xylene, bromo benzene, 1 3 5 methyl benzene, 1 2 4 methyl benzene, p-iso pro toluene, n-buytl benzene and 1 2 4 trichloro benzene - has been detected at alarming levels from 10 locations. These locations included Surya Pharmaceuticals, above offices of the Industries Department at Baddi, Morepen Industries and State Pollution Control Board, Morepen industry reactor process in Nalagarh, outside Morepen unit, Mazza Healthcare Barotiwala, Sarvottam Healthcare effluent treatment plant Barotiwala, Cosmetica Corporation Baddi and Cosmetica Corporation process in Baddi. The board has, however, failed to initiate any action to save the locals from the hazardous effects of these chemicals. Its member secretary Shushil Kumar Singla said they had served a show-cause notice on a firm where these VOCs were detected, but the unit had asserted that no such chemical was let out by them. He failed to give any convincing reply as to why no remedial measure had been initiated by the board to check the VOCs. Members of Him Parivesh, including its president Ajit Singh Dhukhiya and Balkrishen Sharma, said the report had vindicated the stand of the association, but it was lamentable that the board was sitting pretty even after these findings. They pleaded that the court should take note of these findings so that the locals could be saved from the hazardous effects of these chemicals. It is worth mentioning that even though the respirable suspended particulate matter (RSPM), which was one of the key parameters of measuring ambient air quality, had exceeded the safe limit of 60 microgram per m3 for the past several months in the BBN area, no measure had been taken to curb air pollution. Figures available from the board showed that the annual average of RSPM at DIC Baddi, Housing Board Baddi, Barotiwala and Nalagarh were 109, 106, 118 and 103, respectively, for 2010-11.
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Art lovers condole Hussain’s death
Dharamsala, June 14 Hussain, often described as India’s Picasso, was accused by Hindu hardliners of insulting their faith for portraying goddesses nude in some of his paintings - a depiction that he said symbolised purity. People related with art in one or the other way expressed grief and a loss to the art fraternity. Dr Hridya Pal Singh, grandson of legendary artist Sardar Sobha Singh, who’s not an artist himself but understands and follows it closely, expressed sincere grief on the death of Hussain. He disclosed, “Sardar Sobha Singh and MF Hussain were friends. The latter even attended the exhibition organised on the occasion of 75th birth anniversary of Sobha Singh in New Delhi”. Hridya Pal also said, “He was a well-known artist, master in his work. He brought laurels to the country but at the same time his work hurt the sentiments of many which separated him from Sardar Sobha Singh. His (Sobha Singh’s) art depicted peace and harmony amongst different groups, people and religions whereas Hussain’s works took him away from his country and people, feels Hridya Pal. National award winner artist Vijay Sharma, who has also written articles on Hussain, feels, “Hussain was an artist of excellence, but he misused his art. He destroyed his image and talent by painting controversial, contemporary images of Hindu goddesses”.
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Projects fail to move beyond foundation stones in Palampur
Palampur, June 14 The Chief Minister laid the foundation stone of a multi-storeyed parking project in the town on June 8, 2008, but till date, no efforts were made to take up the construction of this project. The Local Municipal Council had already transferred land for the project. On the occasion of stone-laying ceremony, the Chief Minister and BJP MP Shanta Kumar had announced to complete the project in 2010. Even after three years, no headway could be made in this project. Thakur Balwant Singh, president, Palampur Municipal Council, said the matter was pending with the Urban Development Department for the past three years, therefore the project was hanging fire. Likewise, the Chief Minister had also laid the foundation stone of a solid waste garbage disposal plant. This project is also hanging fire. No tenders are called for this project till date as the design for this project is yet to be finalised by the Urban Development Department. There are a number of other projects where only foundation stones are seen and there is no sign of construction. Interestingly, both these projects were funded by the Centre and necessary funds had already been given to the local Municipal Council three years ago. In the past three years, the cost of construction had almost doubled, but none in the government is bothered to see the files relating to such projects. Another project for residential complex of doctors in the local Civil Hospital is also hanging fire. The foundation of this project was also laid by the Chief Minister. The design for this project could not be finalised till date, therefore the construction could not be taken up. Besides, ministers and MLAs of the state government had also laid foundation stones of nearly 36 projects in the Palampur region, but these projects too have been waiting for approval for construction from various state government agencies.
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Vignettes
There was poetry all around the 14th Flower Show arranged by Shimla Amateur Garden and Environment Society (SAGES) at the Ridge during the recently concluded summer festival of Shimla. Students of 12 schools on the theme “Colours of the Season” put in their heart and soul in flower arrangement and the three judges had to struggle to select the three best from among those.
Monal Public School, Sanjauli, was crowned the winner and the three creative girls admitted that they worked on the theme for a month. It was the third year in succession that Monal bagged the trophy of best flower arrangement among the schools. The countenance of the winning girls reflected Charles Baudelair’ words, “Happy is the person/ Who hovers over life and understands without effort/The language of flowers and voiceless things”. These proud winners inaugurated the Flower Show and a feeling of deserved honour reflected on their faces when they cut the ribbon amidst claps and pats. Shakti S. Chandel, a former bureaucrat-cum-poet, who has written a book of poems “Beyond the Clouds”, was the first to take a round of the show, probably to have the first whiff of the freshness afraid of the wilt of flowers later in the summer’s day. I was reminded of a few lines from his poem, “Ah me! Fragrance flutters from jasmine flower/But pale primrose soon dwindle under a bower”. Shakti is a flower-lover too. Prof Madan Sharma, who is versed in Urdu poetry, is a regular visitor to the flower show and contributes to the visitors’ book in his own inimitable style. He writes, “Seed and sapling- a tale to tell/Like spring and bloom, they ever gel/Seed in sapling or sapling in Seed/It is unsullied love Indeed.” Shaily Pant from Dehradun uses her poetic imagination in seeing flowers decorating the Mother Nature. Irshad Hussain of Chandigarh watched “the beauties of heavens” in the show while Shekhar Bhattacharya, an ever-smiling Prasar Bharati artist, “wished all to steal the blooming smile from the flowers”. A few of the visitors carried lessons home. Rita Mitra, principal accountant general of Himachal Pradesh saw in “a wide range of flowers and plants a message that creates awareness and enthusiasm for natural beauty and ecology”. Santosh Utsuk Prabhat Kumar asked, “If such beautiful flowers are there in nature, why do we go for plastic ones for our homes?” Vishwa Nath Sood felt that a visit to the show had refreshed him which otherwise would have been a tiresome evening. And why not? The best exhibit of the show - Hydrangea from East Bourne Hotel, itself was so refreshing (see photo). Poetic expression is not new to Shimla Flower Show. When an exclusive flower fete was arranged at Annandale in 1851, the organisers forgot to make tuck-in arrangement and the hungry gathering had to make an early walk out. Stiggins then wrote a ditty: “The gardens were decked in gorgeous array,/ The ladies, like flowers, were blooming and gay;/The Malees and Dalees were waiting to be beprais’d and bepriz’d by the great committee./But alas! That sage council, so careless and free,/Had forgotten refreshment for the companie,/Oh! The Annandale Fete! Oh! The Annandale Fete!” An 18-year silence after that was broken by one WH Carey who indulged in poetics to describe the well-attended flower show held at Annandale in 1869, “The tent is filled with flowers from roof to floor,/ Creepers its very pillars are enwreathing,/And through the shrubs about the open door,/A soft low breeze is blowing”. Dr Prem Kumar, vice-chancellor of Bahra University, who was the chief guest on the final day of the Flower Show was less poetic and more practical in suggesting how SAGES should spread its wings in broadening the sphere of its influence to attract more flower lovers and more funds so that the worth exclaiming activities of the organisation are not crunched. He saw “flower in the centre of our life and values”.
Tailpiece
A visitor from Ludhiana, after seeing the trophies for the winners lying on the table in the flower show complex, commented:” Wah ji Shimla, Jidder vekho odder maan hi maan; itthe sammaan, stage te Gurdas Maan, utte Hanumaan”.
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Dhumal govt failure on all fronts: HPCC chief
Palampur, June 14 Talking to mediapersons here, Singh said the Dhumal government had failed on all fronts and people of the state are fed up with its anti-people and anti-state policies. He added the recent outbursts of BJP MP Rajan Sushant against the government had vindicated stand of the Congress. Singh claimed that “Himachal is on Sale” as the present government was liberally allowing the outsiders to buy land in gross violation of Section 118 of the HP Land Revenue Act. ‘Bhu Mafia’ was active in the state and number of ‘benami land deals’ was increasing day by day. Singh questioned funding of the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) by the industrial houses and power project companies in the state. He said if these companies really wanted to make donations, it should give such money to state exchequer so that the same could be utilised for the welfare of people and could be granted to the HPCA from its exchequer. Singh alleged Dhumal was misleading people of the state and blaming the UPA government for discrimination in the allocation of funds to state. He quoted that during 1999-2004, the NDA government released only Rs13,000 crore to the state; whereas from 2004 to 2009, the UPA granted Rs 25,000 crore for development. Besides, Rs 4,000 crore- World Bank aided project was also sanctioned for execution of the power projects. Singh said if the Congress was voted to power in the coming assembly election, it would order high-level probe into all the scams surfaced during the BJP regime and put all the corrupt officials and leaders behind the bars.
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Himachal Diary Indiscriminate privatisation of passenger transport services in the state has added to the woes of commuters, particularly of areas located at some distance form the main highways. They have to put up with irregular and inadequate bus services and often have to wait for hours by the roadside as the private transporters do not abide by the time schedule. School and college students are the worst sufferers as they are invariably forced to travel on the roofs of buses during peak hours due to heavy rush. Even important tourist destinations like Chail do not have adequate bus services and vehicles plying with passengers on the roof are a common sight (see photo). Residents inform that the government first allot bus routes to private transporters with favourable time schedules and thereafter gradually withdraw the services of the public sector undertaking on the plea that the routes are economically unviable. Till recently, Chail had direct bus service to Chandigarh and Delhi, but now, there is a complete monopoly of private transporters and the state road transport corporation has even discontinued bus services between Shimla and Chail. Students who daily commute between Chail and Kandaghat, Solan and Shimla are facing hardships. Dog show a big draw
A dog show-cum-fashion show organised by the State Red Cross Society and the Shimla police during the Red Cross Fair drew wide appreciation. In all 41 dogs participated and “Tickli”, a Labrador retriever bitch owned by Shashi Vivek, was adjudged the best. It was the third win for the canine which had earlier bagged similar titles in events held in Hamirpur in 2007. The cultural programme organised on the occasion also won accolades from the tourists who thronged the fair in large numbers. A baby show was also organised on the occasion.
Ramdev campaign stirs debate
While the ongoing agitation by yoga guru Ramdev against corruption has started a debate in the civil society in Hamirpur, it has also brought about a polarisation in society. People supporting the issue raised by Ramdev and his disciples are targetting the UPA government for crackdown on his supporters at Ram Lila grounds in New Delhi. Not only this, they are terming the action as an attempt to gag the voice of the people who are raising the issues of national interest. However, this is also a reality that very few people come out openly in support of his agitation. The people opposing Baba’s campaign are challenging his own credentials and accuse him of building a multimillion enterprise with the support of several state governments. In Himachal, the issue will be raised during the next Assembly plan as the opposition Congress has made “Himachal on sale” its main plank with focus on land deals and Ramdev’s Patanjli Yogapeeth is one of the organisation allotted land by the Dhumal government. (Contributed by Rakesh Lohumi and DP Gupta)
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MNREGA project to destroy wild weeds
Hamirpur, June 14 The department has formulated a project for this purpose, which is being implemented through MNREGA by farmers of the district. The wild weeds, which are in abundance in many parts of the district, have spread on grasslands and large tracts of abandoned cultivable land during the past many years. These weeds had not only become a menace for farmers but also affecting the agriculture. To find solution to this problem the department has prepared a project to destroy the weeds and check its growth by replanting new valuable plants. Three weeds - Lantana, Ageratum and Paphenium have been identified by the department and to destroy these a project has been prepared by using scientific methods. Four panchayats of Bamsan block have already implemented this project through MNREGA. Agriculture deputy director SD Kalia said, “The growth of these weeds had been adversely affecting grasslands, increasing the number of wild animals and forest fires thereby reducing availability of fodder and turning cultivable land into a barren land.” “While this activity is generating employment it is also leading to deal with the menace of weed,” he added. At present the farmers have been engaged to uproot the weeds manually or by spraying glyfocet from the government land but they can use these techniques with their own resources on their abandoned cultivable land. Project officer DRDA Ajeet Bhardwaj said, “The success rate of destroying weeds is very good and many farmers who had abandoned farming due to weeds have planted new plants on this land and many grasslands have also been saved while local people are also getting employment through MNREGA.”
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Record power generation at Nathpa Jhakri project
Shimla, June 14 The country’s largest hydroelectric project achieved peak output on May 12 this year, a month earlier than usual, to produce 1,123 million units (MU) of power in May as against the target of 866 MU. Last year, the project generated 925 MU of power during the month. The project has surpassed the current year’s target of generating 1,267 MU of power by May 31 by 255 MU of power which was a big achievement. The discharge in the Sutlej, which normally reaches 400 cumecs (cubic metre per second) towards the middle of June, crossed the mark in the second week of May. The main reason for the increased flow in the river has been the accumulation of snow in the lower ranges which is melting much earlier. The discharge has already crossed 700 cumecs this season, while last year, it reached 639 cumecs on June 19. Normally, the level of silt in the river also starts increasing once it crosses 650 cumecs, but this year it has been as low as 619 ppm (parts per million). The project has to be shutdown if the silt increases to 4,000 ppm to prevent damage to turbines. Last year, the plant remained closed for 22 days on account of high silt in July and August. The project generated 7,114 MU of power last year against a target of 6,700 MU. This year, the Union Ministry of Power has enhanced the target to 6,900 MU. The commissioning of 1,000-MW Karcham Wangtu project, which has a five-km-long reservoir, will help in brining down the level of silt during the monsoon.
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Villagers demand shifting of liquor vend
Naggar (Kullu), June 14 “The liquor shop is located just 20 yards from Government Senior Secondary School and a private school here. Moreover, another liquor vend is located near Naggar Castle and there is no justification to run the second vend in the middle of this heritage township,” villagers resented. Surprisingly, after SHG members took the issue with the DC thrice, the assistant commissioner, Excise and Taxation, Kullu, has ordered to shift the liquor vend to other place on May 5 within 10 days. “But the nuisance has been continuing as the department has not implemented its own decision,” rued local women. Office-bearers of the SHG, Sumitar Devi, Antara Sharma, Kamlesh Mahajan and Meera Acharya, said drunkards come from outside to the vend and create nuisance almost everyday. “But the Excise Department is not implementing its own order even after 20 days have passed. We have also informed the police, but the problem remains,” they added. “I just got out of a bus and a bottle was hurled at us. Luckily, it did not hit us but it smashed the windowpane of a shop,” rued Meera Devi. Even prominent residents demand shifting of the liquor vend. The shopkeepers also narrated the same story. “We have to shut our shops early or face the wrath of drunkards near the vend,” resented Chaman Lal, a local shopkeeper. The 27 SHG members objected to opening of the liquor vend at the chowk before the Excise Department auctioned it. “The vend and a snooker pool here have exposed our children to bad habits. We have no option other than taking action on our own,” the women warned. Jagdish Sharma, Commissioner, Excise and Taxation, said they had received a complaint from the villagers and they had asked the contractor to shift. “We will sort out the issue soon as the vend cannot be closed mid-way as per the terms of auction”.
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Chamba to get school of Pahari painting soon
Chamba, June 14 Curator of the Bhuri Singh Museum Ramesh Chandra said it had been proposed to set up a school of Pahari painting and a centre for Chamba rumal on the museum premises. These centres will revive indigenous arts under the supervision of master artist Vijay Sharma, already working in the museum. Chandra hoped that this endeavour would go a long way in reviving the great art forms of the bygone era. Chandra revealed that the selection of the students would be made by an entrance test to be conducted in the museum. The female enthusiasts would also be given an equal opportunity to learn the art of miniature painting. The training would open new vistas for earning livelihood for the budding artists. A blueprint for setting up of a Chamba rumal centre has already been sent to the state government for the approval. Chamba is famous world over for its rich cultural heritage. Hundreds of tourists from home and abroad throng every year to see the art treasure preserved in the museum and they quite often ask for purchasing the Chamba rumal paintings. So the museum will cater to this demand of tourists soon,
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Manjri Garden adds to Chamba’s beauty
Chamba, June 14 The garden, costing Rs 48 lakh, has been set up on the right bank of the Ravi. Chamba’s traditional musical instruments have been carved on rocks at the garden, which also has a swimming pool and a café. According to Chamba deputy commissioner Devesh Kumar, the cafe has been outsourced to a private party while the process of granting the contract of managing the swimming pool is under way. The garden is located at the point where the historic Minjar carnival, which begins from Akhandchandi Palace here, concludes with the immersion of the traditional “minjars” (made of silk) in the river. The garden has three lawns. It is a good picnic spot as the site is approachable by road. The local administration hopes to turn it into a tourist hot spot as it is situated in a clean and unpolluted environment on the Chamba-Pathankot national highway.
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Dr Sharma gets first D Lit in music
Shimla, June 14 Dr Sharma did his research on the “Time Theory” in the context of Indian classical music to ascertain whether there is a fixed and rigid time schedule for singing various ragas. However, during research, he found that there was no historical or empirical evidence to substantiate the time theory. He says the time theory of ragas does not hold good in all situations and there are more exceptions than rules. “The time theory also suffers from internal contradictions and at times it is almost impossible to fix singing time for mixed ragas,” he explains. The research work has been very exhaustive and time consuming, as he started work on it right from his student days. It was under the guidance of Prof Keshav Sharma, a disciple of Pt Ravi Shankar, that he did his work. It was 17 years ago that he presented a paper on the same theme at the annual conference of Indian Music Congress. Dr Sharma has written a number of research books, both in music as well as psychology. He has published more than 35 research papers and attended several national and international conferences.
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300-yr-old kuhal turns into garbage dump
Palampur, June 14 In the absence of garbage disposal facility, people residing on its banks between Bundla and Bhawarna have been dumping their entire waste into the kuhal. Besides, the residents have also thrown open their sewerage into the kuhal. Earlier, its water was used for drinking, but now the water is highly polluted and contaminated that it is not even fit for washing cloths and feeding animals. The situation is worst between Aima and Maranada towns where people have been openly using this prestigious water source as a dumping site. Besides, in many villages between Aima and Bhawarna, people have encroached upon the kuhal and its adjoining land by constructing illegal structures, resulting in frequent blockades causing inconvenience to farmers whose adjoining land had turned slushy. Many houses along the kuhal have become unsafe. Enquiries by The Tribune revealed that tonnes of garbage, animal carcasses, and other waste material are thrown into the kuhal daily as there was no one to check the menace. A junior engineer of the IPH Department told the Tribune that over 30 laboureres had been deployed between Palampur and Bhawarna to flush out garbage from the kuhal. He said in the absence of any law and failure on the part of higher authorities, the water channel has been turned into a garbage dump. The IPH Department which looks after the maintenance of the Kirpal Chand Kuhal has failed to initiate corrective measures and check encroachments. Various environmentalist groups have expressed concern over the issue. Suresh Mahajan, executive engineer, IPH, Palampur, said he would look into the matter. He said such issues were to be settled by his juniors and the media should approach them.
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Corruption rampant in state, says Virbhadra
His large number of supporters, including sitting MLAs, ex-MLAs, ex-MPs, former ministers and other party leaders all over the state participated in the convention. Hundreds of his supporters reached on the venue raising pro-Virbhadra Singh slogans. He was the key spokesman in the brainstorming session of the party. The convention was hold by the party to devise strategy for the Assembly elections due next year. Virender Singh, MP and in charge HPPCC affairs, who was the chief guest stated that Virbhadra Singh would be one of star campaigners in the Assembly elections. He said as per the policy of the party, the Congress would not project anyone as the Chief Minister. However, he categorically stated that the MLAs would be given free hand to elect the Chief Minister after the elections. While addressing political session, Virbhadra Singh appealed to Congress workers to fight untidily against the misrule of the BJP in the state, only then it could be ousted from the power in the Assembly elections due next year in the state. He said the time had come to forget the differences and the only motto should be to defeat the BJP. He quoted corruption was rampant in the state, it was evident from the fact that senior IAS officers were caught red handed while accepting bribe. Instead of initiating an action against such officers, the BJP government reinstated giving key assignments. Illegal land deals in the state had threatened the cultural heritage of the hill state as border areas of the state were flooded with outsiders because of the fact that the Dhumal government granted permissions in wholesale to buy land in gross violation of the provisions Section 118 of the HP Land Revenue Act. He released the figures stating that in Solan, Kasauli, Parwanoo, Baddi, Kandhaghat, Una, Nurpur areas of the state, hundreds of acres of land was illegally transferred in name of non-Himachalis. Setting up of a private university and permission granted to these institutions to buy land in Himachal has become a big scam. The way the builders were allowed to come to Himachal and construct housing towers in forest lands was a serious matter. In a town like Shimla where the government had a top priority to save the green cover but the BJP government allowed the builder to press the JCB machines to cut green species for setting up housing projects. The commitment made by the CM in this regard to restrain the builders was not fulfilled and constructions were still on in forestland.
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Palampur, June 14
There was poetry all around the 14th Flower Show arranged by Shimla Amateur Garden and Environment Society (SAGES) at the Ridge during the recently concluded summer festival of Shimla. Students of 12 schools on the theme “Colours of the Season” put in their heart and soul in flower arrangement and the three judges had to struggle to select the three best from among those.
Indiscriminate privatisation of passenger transport services in the state has added to the woes of commuters, particularly of areas located at some distance form the main highways. They have to put up with irregular and inadequate bus services and often have to wait for hours by the roadside as the private transporters do not abide by the time schedule.
Naggar (Kullu), June 14
Chamba, June 14
Palampur, June 14
Palampur, June 14