Shimla, October 24
The bickering and infighting within the ruling BJP is likely to intensify in the coming days with loyalists of Chief Minister PK Dhumal holding a closed-door meeting to chalk out their strategy to launch a counter-offensive against Shanta Kumar and his supporters.

Not willing to take things lying low, loyalists of Dhumal have decided to bring to the notice of the high command the “damaging” activities of Shanta supporters and their so called “crusade against corruption”.

Perturbed over the activities of the Shanta camp in obliquely hitting out at Dhumal and his government, supporters of the Chief Minister have now decided to hit back.

Led by Irrigation and Public Health Minister Ravinder Ravi, who is on the hit list of Shanta men, leaders owing allegiance to the Chief Minister, held a closed-door meeting at Kangra, last night.

Those who attended the meeting included Ravinder Ravi, MLAs Sanjay Chaudhary and Rakesh Pathania, former Rajya Sabha MP Kripal Parmar, former minister Harbans Rana, former MLA Ram Chand Bhatia and Vikram Singh.

“After complaining to the high command, now, Shanta loyalists are publicly trying to embarrass the government by indirectly hitting out against their own party’s government,” said a senior leader.

He added it was high time that the high command took note of their damaging activities so that the party does not suffer as fallout of this open display of infighting and factionalism.

It is basically the delimitation of Assembly constituencies on the basis of which the next Assembly elections will be held, which has become the main bone of contention between BJP legislators and ministers in Kangra.

With Ravi’s constituency being split and merged into other Assembly segments as part of the delimitation exercise, his search for a new foothold has led to a tension between BJP leaders.

Ravi and Lok Sabha MP from Kangra Rajan Sushant do not see eye to eye and now, Ravi seems to have picked up cudgels with Sulah MP Vipin Parmar by eyeing his Assembly segment.

His relations with Food and Supplies Minister Ramesh Dhawala are also not too cordial, as he had also been contemplating to shift base to the Jwalamukhi segment, represented by Dhawala.

The manner in which the rival camps within the BJP, especially in Kangra, are virtually daggers drawn, the infighting is likely to increase as elections draw nearer.

Senior leaders of the Shanta camp have openly being airing their resentment against Ravi, who is the blue-eyed boy of the Chief Minister.

Shimla, October 24
Having entered public life through the sports route, Vikramaditya, the only son of Congress stalwart Virbhadra Singh, today threw his hat in the political ring by filing nomination for the post of state Youth Congress president, the elections for which will be held from November 4 to 6.

The move has not come as a surprise. That Vikramaditya intended to enter active politics became quite apparent the day he floated the Himachal Pradesh Sports, Culture and Environment Association in June early this year. In fact, he is using the sports body, which has already organised some events, as a stepping stone to enter the highly competitive field of politics. Being too young to enter electoral politics, he is keen to establish his credentials as a youth leader.

He said he wanted to gain experience in handling organisational affairs and the state Youth Congress provided the best platform for the purpose. It would have been quite appropriate for Vikramaditya, who is pursuing law in Delhi University, to join the National Students Union of India. Explaining the reasons for his decision, he said the platform of the Youth Congress would enable him to have a larger reach. No doubt the NSUI was an excellent organisation, but its activities were limited to colleges and universities.

Being new to the Youth Congress politics, Vikramaditya will be entirely dependent on the clout of his father Virbhadra Singh for winning the post. However, he said he had chosen to enter the youth organisation through the democratic process in line with the ideology and guidance of Rahul Gandhi. He said in a democratic set-up everyone had the right to contest and many candidates, including the present incumbent, Manmohan Katoch, would be in the fray. It would be a friendly match among members of the organisation and once the election process was over, all contestants would work as a team and support the new team of office-bearers. He said he would be on his own and personally campaign in 11 of the 12 districts to cover 50 to 55 Assembly constituencies till November 4.

With over 12 candidates, including sons of some other prominent leaders like GS Bali, Ram Lal Thakur and Krishan Dut Sultanpuri also in the fray, there will be hectic political activity and the involvement of senior leaders will give rise to many new equations within the party. It will be an interesting battle, the outcome of which can have implications for senior leaders.

Mandi/Keylong, October 24
More than six inches of fresh snowfall reported in the higher peaks of the Lahaul-Udaipur region since last night, today hit the joint Army-IAF rescue mission to locate the missing pilot and the wreckage of the MiG-29, six days after it crashed into the 18,000-foot-high Lote peak, located about 6 km from the Chokhang region in Udaipur subdivision.

Family members of the missing pilot, Sq Ldr BS Tomar, today reached Keylong and offered a cash reward of Rs 50,000 to anyone who gave a clue to the missing pilot.

The rescue team once again failed to get any clue to the wreckage site or the pilot of the ill-fated MiG-29 that lost link with the Adampur airbase at around 8.30 pm on Tuesday.

The snowfall has worried the rescue mission as it has dimmed the chances of locating the wreckage.

The rescue team did an aerial-and-ground recee of the Chokhang-Lote region today, but failed to meet any success.

The team and the family members of the pilot are camping at the Dolang base in Lahaul.

Lahaul-Spiti Deputy Commissioner Rajiv Shankar said the joint rescue team would do an aerial as well as ground recce tomorrow.

Though the IAF had confirmed that burnt components brought back by tribesmen from the base of the Lote peak on Friday were that of the crashed MiG, the ground as well as aerial recce carried out since then near the site has failed to give any further clue to the wreckage or the missing pilot.

Hamirpur, October 24
The Himachal Pradesh Ex-Servicemen Corporation has decided to give computer training to dependants of ex-servicemen for giving them employment in various government and semi-government departments in the state.

The management of the corporation recently took this decision as a large number of vacancies are available in government departments, boards, corporations and Central Government organisations.

The corporation had signed agreements with several organisations to provide them security guards, data-entry operators and computer operators.

As a result of these agreements, the corporation has received a large number of requests of recommending candidates for filling the posts from the computer trained persons.

The Corporation has also made an agreement with a computer training institute for providing the training.

It is also preparing a list of candidates on the basis of which they would be trained at the institute for six months.

Solan, October 24
The Health and Ayurveda Minister, Dr Rajiv Bindal, today said the previous Congress government had neglected the ayurveda system and had not filled even a single post of doctor or class IV employee in the department.

He said the policies of the Congress government gave a big blow to the progress of ayurveda in the state and deprived the people of health services. He said they had promoted ayurveda across the state. Besides, 150 doctors had been deputed in allopathic dispensaries, which had helped improve the health services in rural areas.

Dr Bindal was addressing a gathering here on the occasion of Dhanwantri Day, organised by the Ayurveda Doctors Federation and Ayurvedic Medicines Manufacturers Association. He said the ayurveda system got its due recognition under the present government which had helped strengthen health services in the state. This had helped popularise ayurveda in every nook and corner of the state, especially in remote areas with more than 300 ayurvedic doctors being recruited to serve the department. As many as 350 posts of ayurveda pharmacist would be filled in the next few months.

The Health Minister said the four years of the present government were the golden era of progress and promotion of ayurveda in the state. Infrastructure and research, which were both crucial areas, were given priority. The process of opening a full-fledged ayurvedic university was almost complete and a new ayurvedic university would soon come up in the state. The Paprola Ayurveda College had been granted added facilities with postgraduation being available in 11 subjects and another four subjects would be added from the next session.

With a view to strengthening the infrastructure, funds had been released for the construction of 500 ayurvedic health centers with construction work being on the last leg in about 300 centres. The department had released Rs 15 crore for 150 ayurvedic health centres with Rs 12 crore being released for furniture and other facilities in ayurvedic hospitals in the state.

Kasauli MLA Rajeev Sehjal, vice-chairman of the Solan Municipal Committee Pawan Gupta, state BJP spokesperson Nardev Badola and Vaidya Ram Kumar Bindal were among those present on the occasion. 

Shimla, October 24
The state high court today summoned the record of the alleged purchase of ayurvedic drugs by the Director, Ayurveda, on higher prices.

The court passed this order after perusing the rejoinder filed by the petitioner, the HP Ayurvedic Manufacturing Association, wherein it further alleged that the department had purchased the medicines by violating the norms of the Centre.

However, the state has contended in its reply before the court that the department had not violated any norms.

It further contended that the medicines were not purchased on higher prices and refuted the allegations made by the association.

While passing this order, the Bench headed by Chief Justice Kurian Joseph further listed the matter for November 11.

The court passed this order on a petition filed by the association in which it was alleged that ayurvedic medicines were purchased by the Director, Ayurveda, in violation of the rules.

It was further alleged that as per the relevant rules 70 per cent of drugs were purchased from state manufacturing units and 30 per cent from out of the state.

The petitioner has further alleged that while purchasing the drugs, the Director had manipulated the rules to purchase the drugs at higher rates from 
outside.

According to the petitioner, the department had shown undue haste in purchase of drugs in such a manner that no tender was floated and the purchase order was placed.

It was further alleged that on the basis of quotation and prices of 2009, the purchase order was placed through fax and they were asked to make the supply.

Mandi/ Koksar, October 24
Residents of Koksar and Sirru gram panchayats today demanded the setting up of a snow sports training institute and a hospital and ensuring ecological safety for the Chota Shigri glacier, 20 km from the 8-m-high weir of the 120-MW Chatru, which is the world’s highest project located at an altitude of 3,400 m.

Welcoming the tapping of power in the high altitude of the Chatru region, residents from Koksar and Sirru panchayat today put forward these demands at the public hearing for the Chatru power project being executed by DCM Sriram Infrastructure Ltd at Chatru on the Chandra river in Lahaul-Spiti district.

It was country’s highest project location, perhaps highest in the world so far, said engineers.

Villagers demanded that the Chandra valley was a storehouse of adventure sports, including skiing and river-rafting trekking, but the government had done nothing to promote adventure sports in the tribal belt.

“We want that hydropower companies setting up projects on the Chandra-Bhaga river must set up a winter games training institute to tap local youth in adventure sports,” they added.

“But we want that high-altitude species of shrubs and seabuckthorn and herbs should not be disturbed as these protect the glaciers,” they asserted.

The villagers further demanded a hospital at Koksar and 70 per cent employment for locals in the project and efforts should be made to breed trout in the Chandra river.

The company ensured them that they would provide free medical facility to locals at its dispensary and would set up a hospital at Koksar if the locals provide them land.

According to the policy, they will allocate 1.5 per cent of the project budget to the Local Area Development Authority.

The company claimed that the project was eco-friendly as it did not involve any displacement and cutting of trees as its 90 per cent of components were underground.

It pleaded that the project had 8-m-high weir that involves no submergence and poses and no direct threat to the Chota Shigri glacier, which was 20 km from the project site.

“No fish life has been reported in the Chatru area of the river so far by the Fisheries Department,” the firm claimed.

The public hearing was conducted by the State Environment Protection and Pollution Control Board (SEPPCB) today at Koksar.

The public hearing was attended among others by Keylong SDM RK Thakur, DFO GS Chandel and Kullu Nadda panchayat pradhan (Koksar) Om Parkash.

The SDM told The Tribune that the proceedings were conducted in a cordial manner and videographed.

“No displacement and submergence is involved as the project is located on the barren forest land. The demands and objections of villagers were recorded for further action on the project,” he added.

Chamba, October 24
Taking serious view of the issues being faced by farmers, orchardists and unemployed youths residing on the fringe of hydropower projects, wildlife sanctuaries and mining areas in the mountainous terrains of Chamba district, Kangra MP Rajan Sushant has bewailed that troubles and miseries of the locals have not only been multiplied, but also increased manifold arising out of these hydel projects, wildlife habitats and mining sites.

Addressing mediapersons at the local Circuit House here today, Dr Sushant said except the NHPC, the hydropower projects, which included a 500-MW project in Holi area and a 106-MW project in Bharmour and Bairagarh terrains had been sanctioned for independent power produces of private enterprises.

He said these projects were being constructed with a notional cost of Rs 1,300 crore, out of which the local area development (LAD) funds comes to around Rs 16 crore.

He said this amount was required to be deposited with the government till now, but hardly 50 per cent of this amount had so far been deposited. Dr Sushant regretted that only Rs 2.5 crore had so far been released to the development of panchayats located on the environs of these projects.

The MP lamented that the orchards as well as the land of the local farmers destroyed while executing these projects had not been given the legitimate compensation so far.

He expressed disappointment over the inordinate delay in deposting the amount of Rs 4.43 crore by the Chanju hydroelectric project on account of the local area development fund, which is obligatory on the part of any hydropower project.

He said the 36-MW Chanju stage-I hydroelectric project at Bagheigarh in the Churah sub-division of the district was being constructed at a cost of Rs 295 crore.

Dr Sushant said out of this amount only Rs 1.10 crore had been got deposited by the executing hydropower enterprise through a cheque handed over to the Chief Minister five months ago. He regretted that a period of five months had elapsed, but the balance amount of the LAD funds had not yet been deposited to the state exchequer.

“The delay in recovering the balance amount of the LAD funds is not only the laxity but also the infirmity of the administration,” Dr Sushant said.

Shimla, October 24
Turning adversity into a virtue, cancer survivor Minakshi Chaudhary has scripted her intense struggle and eventual triumph over the dreaded disease into a book to help dispel the fear associated with the disease and bring sunshine in the lives of such patients.

The book entitled “Sunshine: My Encounter With Cancer”, which was released by Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal here today, not only makes one experience the emotional trauma of a patient but also drives home the point effectively that accepting the reality and timely detection can help save many precious lives. The message from the ordeal she underwent as a patient of breast cancer and the intense experience to recovery comes loud and clear. All that one needs is courage to accept the truth and determination to conquer the disease.

She has made creating awareness among women about breast cancer a mission and, working with the Swarn Education and Welfare Awareness Trust (SEWA) held several medical camps screening thousands od women in rural areas for breast cancer.

Releasing the book, Dhumal said dark clouds of scare must give way to a positive attitude as the disease was manageable with the modern methods of treatment. Unfortunately, people were still too scared and the very mention of cancer sent shivers down the spine, which was not a good sign. The courage shown by the author would certainly give heart to other patients to fight and defeat the disease. He expressed confidence that the book would bring sunshine in the lives of patients and give them the mental, physical and emotional strength to survive the disease.

The government would provide all possible assistance to all organisations working for creating awareness about cancer as it was curable if detected at an early stage. He hoped that the book would prove a boon for the patients fighting with the disease.

The Chief Minister honoured Dr SS Minhas, Dr Anmol Gupta, Dr Kalpna, Dr Sanjeev Gupta and other doctors on behalf of the SEWA Trust for their contribution to the field of cancer diagnosis and cure. Dr Rekha Vashisht and Dr Kalpna, both cancer survivors, spoke on the occasion and shared their experience about the battle they fought to overcome the disease.

Rakesh Kanwar, chairman, SEWA Trust, detailed the various activities of the Trust and said free medical camps were being organised throughout the state for early diagnosis of cancer. He said over 5,000 women had been diagnosed in these camps. A documentary on cancer survivors was also screened on the occasion.