|
|
|
|
|
Army proposal for acquiring tea gardens shot down
Tribune Exclusive |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Foreign troupes to participate
Sorang power project upgraded to 150 MW
Health assn to oppose ‘bidi-rolling venture’ in state
Ex-BJP leader’s son forcibly made to swallow poison
Admn averts sacrifice of two buffaloes
Hercules MTB-2011
Rs 400 crore being spent on national highways
Section 118
Climate change cell formed
|
|
Army proposal for acquiring tea gardens shot down
Dharamsala, October 5 Sources told The Tribune that the Army authorities recently moved a proposal to acquire tea gardens on around 6,000 kanals in Palampur. The Army authorities had surveyed the area for the purpose. The Army wants more area near Palampur as recently a division of the Rising Star Corps has been moved into the area from Jammu and Kashmir. The sources said some tea garden owners, who had been barred from using their land for any other purpose according to the law in Himachal, were interested that the Army should acquire their land. However, the district administration, Kangra, has said no to the proposal of the Army. Administration officials have instead proposed that the Army should look for some barren land between Jogindernagar and Baijnath for establishing its cantonment. Deputy Commissioner, Kangra, RS Gupta said since the rules of Himachal did not allow the use of tea gardens for any other purpose, they had asked the Army authorities to look for barren land near Baijnath. Palampur subdivision in Himachal is known for its tea gardens. The Himachal government had exempted the tea garden owners from the Land Ceiling Act to protect the gardens. The exemption came with the condition that the tea garden owners could not use the land for any other
purpose. Now, the land recorded as a tea garden in revenue papers cannot be used for any other purpose. However, now the cost of the tea garden land in the vicinity of Palampur or other towns in Kangra district has increased manifold. Owners often make attempts to sell or convert their land for other purposes. During the the Congress regime, even a housing board colony came on a tea garden in Palampur. Recently HIMUDA once again moved a proposal to bring up a housing colony on a tea garden in Dharamsala. The proposal was, however, later struck down following the intervention of the Chief Minister. Many Tibetan monasteries and religious deras have also come up on tea gardens. Officials express their inability to act in the matter on the plea that tea garden land being held by religious deras or Tibetan monasteries is benami land. However, slow conversion of tea garden land for other purposes is threatening the identity and greenery of Kangra district. Kangra district is known for its tea that also has a unique geographical
indicator (GI). Cantonment Plan
|
|
Tribune Exclusive
Mandi/Kullu, October 5 With losses ranging from 10 per cent to cent per cent, the ever-increasing armies of monkeys, wild boars, nilgais and stray cattle have wreaked havoc on over a staggering 92,000 hectares, destroying crops worth Rs 150 crore in the state every year. The survey, accessed exclusively by The Tribune, has been conducted by the Department of Agriculture in 2010-11. The losses to farmers on account of damage to crops can soar further as damage to fruits has not yet been included in the survey, according to sources. Monkeys have turned out to be the main villains. They wreaked havoc on over 61,000 hectares of agricultural land, while wild boars, nilgais and stray cattle have ruined crops on over 31,000 hectares in the state, according to the survey. The crop area (92,000 hectares) affected by the wildlife menace is a staggering 15 per cent. The state has over 4.5 lakh hectares under crops, say agricultural experts. The survey reveals that the wildlife menace is increasing, having already affected 10 of the 12 districts. The unaffected districts are Kinnaur and Lahaul and Spiti. The survey highlights the farmers’ plight as the government has done precious little to check the wildlife menace for the past more than five years. The departmental survey has come as a shot in the arm for kisan sabhas and agricultural societies as it has exposed the “hollow claims” of armchair animal rights activists, who are championing the wildlife cause claiming that the damage caused to the crops is minimal and the claims of the farmers are exaggerated. On the other hand, the farmers have been fighting a lonely battle against the wild animals and are trying to convince the government to take a drastic policy decision to regulate the population of monkeys, wild boars, nilgais, bats and parrots. Their population has soared as the government has imposed a blanket ban on killing wildlife in the state, the farmers lament. Director, Agriculture, JC Rana says the department has submitted the report to the Forest Department. A case pertaining to the the damage caused to crops by the wildlife is pending in the high court, he adds. |
|
Kullu Dasehra begins today
Mandi/Kullu, October 5 More than 200 deities are expected to participate in the Dasehra festival tomorrow. Governor Urmila Singh will be the chief guest at the inaugural shobha yatra of Lord Raghunath, the presiding devta of Kullu Dasehra. Though the Kullu Dusehra Committee has not invited both devtas who are involved in the dispute, devotees of Balu Nag have arrived in Kullu. However, the police has imposed a section under which Balu Nag will not be able to participate in the rath yatra tomorrow. Last year, Chief Minister PK Dhumal, who was the chief guest during the concluding ceremony, had asked “kardars” and the Dasehra committee to resolve the dispute amicably. However, the devotees, divided along political lines, instead moved the high court. Sources said the president of the Dasehra committee-cum-Deputy Commissioner, Kullu, was asked to resolve the dispute by the HC. However, the DC, being a party to the dispute, has instead filed his reply to the court. Chief representative of Lord Raghunath Maheswhwar Singh, the scion of the former kings of Rupi state, said all attempts to resolve the dispute had failed. Both devtas and their devotees would come, but they would not participate in the rath yatra as the case was sub judice. Meanwhile, VIPs likely to attend the Dasehra celebrations include Supreme Court judge KS Pannickar, Chief Justice of the HP High Court Joseph Kurian, PWD Minister Gulab Singh Thakur, Kerala Health Minister Adoor Prakash and secretary of the VHP Pravin Togadia. Kullu SP Abishek said all security arrangements had been. While Balu Nag would come for Dasehra, Shringa Rishi would not come this time. Balu Nag would camp in its traditional camp at Dhalpur Maidan for the rest of the week, he added. |
|
Hadimba’s palanquin leaves for Kullu
Manali, October 5 Unless the palanquin of Hadimba Devi arrives in Kullu, the Dasehra festival does not begin. About a km from Manali stands a temple in a pagoda-shaped structure built about 500 years ago and popularly known as the Dhungri Temple. It is dedicated to Hadimba Devi, wife of Bheema, one of the five Pandava brothers. Deities of numerous gods and goddesses, accompanied by their devotees, assemble in the Dhalpur ground for the Dasehra festivities. The palanquin of Goddess Hadimba reaches short of the Ragunath Temple, where a special messenger carrying a silver chhari comes to escort the deity to the temple of Raghunath, the presiding deity of Kullu Dasehra. With other gods and goddesses, and a large number of devotees and priests the procession heads towards the Dhalpur ground from the Raghunath Temple. After being enshrined in ancient wooden chariot Lord Raghunath is taken to the middle of the ground. |
|
Foreign troupes to participate
Kullu, October 5 He said the Chief Minister emphasised to maintain the standards of the festival as it was known as the International Folk Dance Festival since 1976 and cultural troupes of Russia, Brazil and Nepal were participating in the event. He added that elaborate security arrangements had been made to make the festival peaceful. |
|
|
Sorang power project upgraded to 150 MW
Shimla, October 5 The Directorate of Energy has granted techno-economic clearance for the revised proposal, the cost of which has been revised from Rs 586 crore to Rs 706 crore. At the time of allotment in September 2004, the capacity was pegged at 60 MW. However, after detailed investigation, NCC Infrastructure, a Hyderabad-based company which is executing the project, found that the actual discharge in the Sorang river was 17.11 cumecs and not 8.56 cumecs on the basis of which the state power board had invited tenders for a 60 MW project. Accordingly it planned a 100-MW project with two generating units of 50 MW each. According to company sources, over the past six years, “hydrology has further improved” and the discharge in the glacier-fed stream has swelled to 25.67 cumecs. Thus, the capacity has been increased from 100 MW to 150 MW by the addition of another 50 MW unit. The quantum of power generated annually will go up from 473 million units to 563 million units and the cost of generation will increase marginally from Rs 2.84 to Rs 3.05 per unit. The project has also been registered under the Clean Development Mechanism and approved for availing benefit of carbons credits. It is one of the best projects in the state. The two 50 MW units will be commissioned by June next year and the third unit will be completed in 2013. Only a 3.2-km transmission line will be required to be constructed to evacuate power from the transmission line already built by Jyapee Associates Company for the Karcham Wangtu project. |
|
Health assn to oppose ‘bidi-rolling venture’ in state
Shimla, October 5 He maintained that it was morally and ethically wrong to promote bidi-rolling as an avocation as it was well established that it affected the women and children who were mainly involved in the trade. Moreover, it militated against the very idea of making the state smoke-free. Narinder Sharma, executive director of the association, said as a first step in this direction, the matter would be taken with the Chief Minister and the issue would be placed before him in the right perspective. Suitable action would be taken if the issue could not be resolved through dialogue. The association, which was recently honoured with a commendatory plaque by the World Health Organisation for making Shimla a smoke-free city, observed that there had been deterioration in the status of the city. The violation of the ban on smoking in public places had increased since October 2010 and as a result the smoke-free level had come down from 90 to 80 per cent.Consultant for the smoke-free project SN Joshi said under the coordinated campaign, involving about 40 organisations, all the district headquarters and 52 development blocks would be covered over the next few months. A Delhi-based organisation The Union, which was working for the eradication of pulmonary diseases, would provide Rs 82 lakh to Rs 90 lakh over the next two years for the purpose. |
|
Ex-BJP leader’s son forcibly made to swallow poison
Solan, October 5 The incident took place around 8:30 pm when Rahul was waylaid near Amit Apartments by three unidentified youths who first blindfolded him and then forced him to drink some poisonous substance. Rahul was first thrashed by the youths and some poisonous drink was forcibly inserted into his mouth. The three then fled from the spot leaving Rahul alone. Sensing that he had been poisoned, Rahul started running towards the hospital. A dental college student, whom he met on the way, managed to arrange a taxi for him in which he reached the hospital. He was given preliminary treatment at the Regional Hospital here and then referred to the IGMC, Shimla, as the doctors were unable to detect what had been consumed by Rahul. Police investigations conducted later, however, revealed that a bottle of insecticide had been inserted into Rahul’s mouth as its bottle was recovered from the site. His condition was stated to be stable today, the doctors here revealed. Police officials said it appeared to be a well-planned case as the miscreants were aware as to when Rahul had closed his shop and he was leaving for home. Six youths had been detained for interrogation based on Rahul’s complaint and further investigations were underway. A case under Sections 307, 328 and 341 of the IPC had been registered against the miscreants and further investigations were, said SP Hardesh Bisht. Rahul’s gold chain and wallet were snatched from him by the three youths. |
|
Admn averts sacrifice of two buffaloes
Mandi, October 5 Villagers gathered around the Kamaksha temple today to celebrate the Navami festival dedicated to the Goddess Kamaksha. They had brought two buffaloes for the sacrifice. But a team led by SDM KK Sharma and the DSP of Karsog, assisted by policemen, officials and the local opponents of animal sacrifice, today won a major battle against the lobby advocating the sacrifice of buffaloes. It was a daylong battle for the officials as they received brickbats from devotees advocating the sacrifice. “By not doing the sacrifice, the devotees would incur the wrath of the devi as she needed buffalo blood to placate her every year,” supporters of the sacrifice claimed. Believers warned the SDM that by not allowing the sacrifice, he and others involved in the act would incur the wrath of the goddess. However, the SDM in reply said customs were man-made and he himself was a devotee and, hence, was ready to face her wrath if any. Later, there was a divide among villagers over the matter with many of them supporting the administration. The security deployed around the temple, supported by opponents, finally averted the sacrifice and captured the two buffaloes. There are only two Kamaksha temples in India, at Karsog and Guwahati, where devotees sacrifice buffaloes to the goddess. Old-timers told The Tribune that over 20 buffaloes specially reared by villagers of a particular caste were sacrificed to the goddess with its meat sold to traders, who also gather in the area under the cover of darkness, sources said. The SDM said the sacrifice was not allowed at the temple by invoking the Prevention of Cruelties against Animal Act. “The buffalo sacrifice was prevented for the first time here and will not be allowed in the near future,” he added. Meanwhile, Mandi DC Devesh Kumar said they had held a meeting and decided that the law should prevail and the sacrifice was
averted. |
|
|
Hercules MTB-2011
Shimla, October 5 He had to opt out as his collar bone was dislocated in the accident. This is the fourth mishap of the rally. Seven other riders also opted out today leaving 70 participants, including 37 in the competitive category, in the race. The riders covered 90 km, the maximum distance on a single day of the eight-day event, today. Meanwhile, Ajay Pandit Chettri of Nepal completed all the three competitive legs for the day in the shortest time to maintain his lead. On the rest day yesterday, the participants observed a two-minute silence in the memory of Suzzane Allen, a regular participant of the MTB Himachal who died trekking in the Alps. A cultural event was also organised in the camp where villagers regaled the riders with folk music and dances around the bonfire. Ashadeep, an NGO, organised a street play to educate village folks, especially schoolchildren, about environment protection. |
|
Rs 400 crore being spent on national highways
Hamirpur, October 5 Addressing a public meeting at Chauki-Jambala and Balla after inaugurating a school building today, he said farmers in the state were being given several benefits through future groups, which enable them to purchase products worth Rs 100 crore even in the first year of their inception. He said this limit would be doubled in the coming years and even self-help groups were being given marketing support. The MP added that the state government had launched several schemes and an all-round development was taking place in the state under the leadership of Chief Minister PK Dhumal. |
|
Section 118
Shimla, October 5 Party spokesperson Ganesh Dut said the Congress had initially welcomed the setting up of the one-man commission to probe benami land deals, but later it decided to boycott it which clearly indicated that it had no evidence to substantiate its charges. He said the Congress was accusing the BJP of selling the state’s interest, but it had under the apartment Act allowed huge chunks of land to 51 builders. In contrast, during the BJP government only 11 cases were
sanctioned. The Congress and the CPM were making allegations against the government only to malign the BJP and there was no substance in their charges.
— TNS |
|
Climate change cell formed
Shimla, October 5 Representatives of the Director, Industries, Director Urban Development, Director Agriculture, Chief Conservator of Forests, Director Rural Development, Director Energy, Superintending Engineer (Hydrology) and a nominee from the HP Water Management Board will be its members. The cell will provide necessary inputs and assistance to the monitoring committee on any issue of impact of climate change on water resources. It will also coordinate with all the climate change cells in the National Institute of Hydrology, CWC, CGWB and other bodies for research and studies. The government has also constituted a monitoring committee for successful implementation of strategies to cope with the impact of climate change. |
|
|
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | E-mail | |
