Shimla, August 2
Even though the newly constructed Inter-State Bus Terminus (ISBT) along the bypass here is ready to be made operational, the absence of proper connectivity to the main town and inadequate space for parking of buses could compound the problems of the commuters as it is located quite far off from the local bus stand.

With the state cabinet and the local municipal corporation granting approval to the ISBT, it is expected that it would be formally inaugurated this month. Though there were violations in the construction norms by the executing agency, these have been approved by the cabinet and the MC in the public interest.

“After inspecting the structure for various norms like roof water harvesting provision and other such mandatory requirements, we will soon inspect the site and grant the completion report to the ISBT,” said AN Sharma, MC commissioner. The project had been hanging fire since long as the violation in construction norms had to be approved.

It is expected that with the starting of the ISBT, the traffic woes of the town will be sorted out as the heavy vehicles will not enter the town which in turn will help check traffic jams. With limited road connectivity and the entire traffic burden being borne by the Cart Road, there is a major traffic congestion in the town, especially during the peak hours. The situation is even worse during the tourist season, both in the summer months and the Christmas-New Year celebrations.

Though the MC has been deliberating upon providing connectivity to the main town from the ISBT, nothing concrete has been done so far.

The Himachal Roadways Transport Corporation (HRTC) plans to run local buses from the ISBT to the main town, but the commuters could face problems. There was a proposal to connect the ISBT to the Mall by an escalator and the Lift, but the projects remain only on paper. “The proposal is very much feasible, but the problem is of managing the huge amount of funds that would be required for such a project,” admitted a senior officer.

Besides, questions are also being raised about the capacity of the ISBT. It is being felt that more space has been devoted for commercial purpose than providing space for buses. HRTC officials admitted that even after the starting of the ISBT they would have to park their long-route buses along the road on the bypass as there was not enough space for parking.

Thus, the project which should have catered to the requirements of the town for the next few years could prove to be inadequate even now.

Palampur, August 2
Himachal Pradesh has emerged as the first state in the country to march towards achieving carbon neutrality. After going through various models of environment conscious countries like Costa Rica, the state government has drawn up a master plan with the support of the World Bank for making Himachal Pradesh a complete carbon-neutral state.

The Central Government has sanctioned a bio-carbon project funded by World Bank to the state. It aims at transforming the socio-economic condition of the people by providing livelihood options to the rural masses.

The bio-carbon project is under way in about 10,000 hectare of non-arable and degraded common forestland. The focus of the project is only on afforestation for which the farmers will receive cash incentives. The project aims at developing cost effective ways to minimise climate change risks by generating environment benefits through carbon regeneration, besides improving revenue generating capacity of small farmers.

The state has also formulated a policy on climate change to prepare a roadmap for issues to be focused in immediate future to protect the environment. The issues that the policy addresses include introducing technological interventions for the reduction of greenhouse emissions from industries, residences, automobiles, landfills and the agricultural sector. It also focuses on massive afforestation programmes, promoting the use of renewable energy, CFL bulbs, meeting energy requirements from hydro power, biomass rather than fossil fuels, recovery of energy from waste and to prevent change in forestland use.

The government has also set up a Green Journalism Award to encourage reporting on environment-related issues. This decision will certainly go a long way in creating awareness among the masses. The government has also announced the imposing of a voluntary “green tax” on vehicle owners. The tax collected will be used in creating an environment fund that will be utilised in implementing steps to make the state carbon-neutral. The “green tax” will, however, be voluntary.

It is a fact that the administrative systems or reforms devoid of the culture of a state are as out of place as searching for an ocean on the hills or light of the sun amidst darkness of night. A true leader, therefore, cannot disregard the culture of the state that he wants to develop. A developed nation reaches that stage only when it recognises the lifestyle of its inhabitants as value, right, responsibility and opportunity. How do you live, what you eat, how you sing, dance and communicate, what you wear, how do you exchange the pleasantries - answers to these queries open the doors of knowing the culture. Any administrative action crosscutting these tenets of culture may result in development but gives rise to revolt among the people against that. History witnesses that people everywhere have forced the administrators to accept that their cultural properties were such heritage that could not be washed off in the name of development.

Dr YS Parmar knew it. Anil Rakeshi, a poet of repute from Sirmaur, once told me that Parmar, who was an aristocrat at heart, shed off his self and purposely mingled with the folks; deliberately adopted and accepted their culture when he thought of making politics his vocation. Rakeshi is right because YSP was born at Chanhalag village of the then princely state of Sirmaur on August 4, 1906 to Bhandari Shivanand Singh and Lakshmi Devi. He completed his school education at Nahan, took his Bachelor’s degree from FC College, Lahore, Masters from Canning College, Lucknow, and got doctorate from Lucknow University. He worked as Session Judge in Sirmaur state. Only a lad from an affluent family could afford all this; Sirmaur being an underdeveloped state. It still is one of the developing districts of Himachal Pradesh.

YSP was a futurist. He visualised that fruits, roads and education only could leave an imprint of this tiny hill state on the Indian map. He made efforts to convert it into a “fruit bowl” and initially experimented with varieties of guava, figs, olive, plums and pears at his farm in Bagthan. He imported four different species of peach from the US and grew these along with avocado and a South Indian peach, a fruit that was favourite of Indira Gandhi. Then surfaced the need of connecting the fruit-laden orchards with the markets but the roads here were mostly mule-paths. The opening of the Shimla-Mandi road on November 14, 1952, raised the expectations of other villages. He immediately initiated a 10-year plan in 1953 for the construction of roads with an allocation of 30 per cent of the budget.

The expenditure per person on education in the state was Rs 235 as compared to Rs 112 in Punjab in 1967-68. Despite this, he earmarked 3.7 per cent of the GDP for education while Punjab and India had 2.3 and 2.7 per cent, respectively. Such was his vision that has taken us ahead of most of the states today.

His relentless efforts resulted in getting statehood for Himachal Pradesh. During 18 years as Chief Minister, he always kept one eye on the administration and the other on the Pahari culture. He was very fond of fish culinary, but loved Himachali food items like indre, kheer, patande, kanjan, siddu and askalian. YSP loved nati, the folk dance; patronised local garments, loiaa and sadari (see photo); loved local food, local people; loved forests and gave the idea of three dimension forestry - fodder for cattle, fuel for hearth and timber for house building - what he did not love was the lust that the present-day politicians showed towards the “gilded chair”.

When he found that unconstitutional powers have attained a stronghold in the governmental affairs, he resigned as Chief Minister on January 24, 1977. He breathed his last in 1981, but is remembered as the one who lived for Himachal and died for Himachal. Tomorrow, we will be remembering him on his 106th birthday. A section in the state is vociferous about the grant of Bharat Ratna posthumously to him. He deserves it, not only for what he did for Himachal Pradesh but also for paving the way that the rest of the Indian hill states are treading today towards development.

Nurpur, August 2
A residential complex for doctors inaugurated by Health and Family Welfare Minister Rajiv Bindal near the Civil Hospital here recently has failed to attract the medicos who have been allotted the accommodation.

According to information, five out of six type IV residential quarters were reportedly allotted to doctors posted at the Civil Hospital in May while the remaining one was allotted to a physician in the first week of the last month.

However, none of the doctor has so far taken the possession of the residence, although five doctors had reported their occupancy. As a result, all six residences are lying vacant. However, in official records, five have been occupied.

Confirming that all residences have been lying vacant, hospital in-charge SK Mahajan, revealed that the authorities had started charging house rent from the doctors who had reported occupancy of the official accommodation. He informed that a three-member committee of the doctors had inspected the complex and after removing some shortcomings, allotments were made.

He admitted that the boundary wall and the main gate of the comples were yet to be built and the PWD authorities had been informed in this connection. Inquiries reveal that these residences have been built in the first block whereas the second block comprising six residences are still under construction. The reluctance in taking possession of the government accommodation by the doctors has failed to fulfill the basic concept of rendering specialty medical services on call to the patients visiting the hospital. These residences have been allotted to a gynecologist, anesthetics, surgeon, physician, dental surgeon and a general doctor. Meanwhile, KS Dogra, chief medical officer, Kangra, said he would look into the matter as to why the doctors had not shifted to the complex and take action accordingly.

Shimla, August 2
The Indian International Friendship Society, Delhi, has conferred the “Bharat Jyoti” award on the convener of the Shimla chapter of INTACH, BS Malhans, for his contribution to the conservation and protection of heritage and the promotion of art and culture.

Malhans, a highly talented personality with a flair for painting and sketches, has been associated with several prestigious projects undertaken for the documentation of the hill culture, traditions, folk art and architecture.

He has been involved with the detailing of INTACH’s initiative for the restoration and conservation of the Gaiety Theatre and the historic Viceregal Lodge, the residence of the Viceroy of India during the British Raj.

Another forte of Malhans has been the preparation of pen and ink drawings for several prestigious organisations, including the Oberoi Group, Bishop Cotton School, Delhi’s lesser-known monuments and of several forts, palaces and havelis 
of Rajasthan and gurdwaras, besides the Anandgarh Fort.

He also prepared the full heritage map in colour in Western Tibetan Thangka style for the Tabo Monastery millennium celebrations and of heritage buildings in Shimla.

Malhans has also gone into detail to document the Indo-Tibetan temples in the Jubbal and Chopal areas of Shimla and temples of the Sangla valley 
in Kinnaur.

He has been closely associated with the project for the grant of UNESCO heritage site status for the Kalka-Shimla rail line and a similar status for the rock-cut temple at Masrur in Kangra.

“The preservation of the rich hill culture, tradition, beliefs and folk arts has been my area of interest and I have passionately pursued several such projects,” says Malhans.

He is currently working on several projects related to wildlife.

Palampur, August 2
Despite a ban on the sale and use of polythene in Himachal Pradesh, it is still being sold here. The government had banned the use of polythene in the state, but in the absence of any check from government agencies, several garbage dumps here are overflowing with polythene bags. In fact, the polythene is yet to be eradicated completely from the state.

It may be recalled that the state government had received a number of awards from agencies for the successful eradication of polythene, but, in reality, little has been done in this respect.

Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal had made a lot of efforts to eliminate polythene from the state and the law was also amended accordingly. He personally convened meetings of officers even at the lower level to make this campaign a success.

But lack of administrative will and failure on the part of the implementing agencies to keep a regular check, polythene is still coming to the state and can be seen littered every where. Though SDMs had been made responsible by the state government, hardly any officer takes interest in this noble cause.

Asia’s oldest Bishop Cotton School in Shimla celebrated its 152nd founder’s day early this week.

Set up on July 28, 1859 by Bishop George Edward Lynch Cotton, the school achieved strength of 65 students by the year 1864, the highest number the buildings and grounds permitted. A change of site was necessary. Bishop Cotton personally explored ten sites and finally approved the south end of Knollswood Spur, the present location. The school shifted to the new premises in September 1868.

The institution has many firsts to its credit. It was the first public school in Asia to start the house system, organised games and prefect system almost at the same time as it was developed in England. The first Indian boy permitted to join the school was Suren Tagore in 1881 and Vishnu Singh in 1883. It subsequently had four Indian school captains, RJ Gandi in 1928, Harry Chukerbuti in 1936, Jahengzeb Khan in 1941 and Hasan Agha in 1946-47, before Independence.

A number of events were organised to mark the occasion, including the ceremonial activities like march past (see photo), founder’s day service and speech of chief guest Kishie Singh.

Dharamsala, August 2
Known as Dev Bhumi, the state has a number of deities worshipped by its people. Various stories and beliefs are related to local devi and devtas here in Kangra district as well. One such belief is related to the Nagni Mata temple, situated on the Mandi-Pathankot highway, 10 km from Nurpur.

The temple is famous for holding the longest fair in the state which lasts for two months. The famous Nagni Mata fair is celebrated annually during the month of Shravan and on every Saturday of Bhadrapad at the temple.

“It is believed that one could get treated of ‘sarpdansh’ (snakebites) and ‘sarp doshas’ (related to horoscopes). This year, the fair, which is held on every Saturday, was kicked off on July 16 and will end on September 10,” informed an official.

Devotees in large numbers have been visiting the temple throughout the Shravan month to pay obeisance to the deity.

Another famous and unique feature of the temple is that the priest is always from a Rajput family and the deity is believed to cure people who got bitten by snakes or poisonous insects.

According to temple priest Prem Singh, Nagni Mata in the form of a golden snake could be seen in and around the temple quite often and the snake never hurts any devotee on the temple premises.

After declaring the Nagni Mela a district-level affair, the local administration has formed a temple authority which has built three dharamshalas, a bhandara house etc.

Arrangements for the victims of snake bites have also been made along with parking and lighting facility in and around the temple.

The mud from the temple premises is believed to keep snake and other poisonous insects at bay and is also believed to cure skin-related diseases.

Palampur, August 2
The ayurvedic system of medicines is becoming popular in Himachal Pradesh as more and more people are opting for this centuries old practice of treatment.

Talking to mediapersons at Paprola recently, State Health Minister Dr Rajiv Bindal said the construction work of 100-bed Deen Dyal Ayurvedic Hospital here at a cost of Rs 4.03 crore would be completed soon. The construction of a hostel with housing capacity for 100 students at a cost of Rs 2.72 crore was under way in this college.

He said a Geriatric Centre of Excellence had also come up in Ayurvedic College, Paprola, at a cost of Rs 5 crore. Similarly, the construction of ayurvedic hospitals at Kullu and Solan at a cost of Rs 1.26 crore and Rs 2.55 crore, respectively, had been completed and would be dedicated to the people soon.

Dr Bindal said a special OPD facility for elderly had been started in all ayurvedic hospitals on every Tuesday. This would be convenient for senior citizens.

The process for setting up of a Rs 5-crore Centre of Excellence in Dravyaguna was underway at Joginder Nagar in Mandi district.

He disclosed that Ayush centres were being established at all primary health centres and community health centres in the state. These centres would provide health services pertaining to both disciplines - ayurveda and allopathic - to the people under one roof.

The Health Minister said approval to start B. Pharmacy (ayurvedic) course had been granted and the same had been started from the last academic session at the College of Ayurvedic Pharmaceutical Sciences, Jogindernagar.

Panchkarma and Kashar Sutra therapies were being encouraged in the state. The Panchkarma system of medicines had been introduced in 16 ayurveda centres, while Kashar Sutra had been introduced in 9 centres during the past 3 years in the state.

To give an impetus to ayurveda, seats in the State Postgraduate Ayurvedic College, Paprola, had been increased from 24 to 39, he added.

Chamba, August 2
Famous for its splendid murals and intricate woodwork, the historic Devi Kothi temple in the far-flung Churah region of Chamba seems to be on its last legs due to sheer neglect. Wall paintings dating back to the mid 18th century are being spoiled by ugly graffiti made by visitors and there is no one to stop them.

Ironically, the temple has been protected by the Department of Language and Culture, Himachal Pradesh, and a monument attendant has been deputed to ensure the safety of the temple. Locals lament that the attendant was never seen on the temple premises. Recently, a delegation of the local villagers gave a representation to the deputy commissioner of Chamba in this regard.

Devi Kothi temple was built by Raja Umed Singh of Chamba (1748-64 AD) in 1754 and he got this shrine embellished with magnificent wall paintings dedicated to goddess Chamunda and Lord Krishna. Great deals of wooden panels with intricate carvings in low relief were also fixed in the ceiling and the façade of this temple.

The temple itself is a small wonder house. Ever since scholars like Eberhard Fischer, VC Ohri and Vijay Sharma wrote a book on this temple, hundreds of art connoisseurs visit it every year.

Constructed in the pent roof hilly architectural style, the temple is made of deodar wood. It, however, lacks fire-safety measures. Most of the pilgrims, who come to pay homage to the goddess here, write their names on the wall paintings.