Shimla, April 5
Four amendment Bills seeking a major hike in the salaries of the MLAs, ministers, Speaker, Deputy Speaker and chief parliamentary secretaries were today introduced in the state Assembly.

Chief Minister PK Dhumal introduced the four Bills, one each separately for a hike in the salaries of the MLAs, the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker, chief parliamentary secretaries (CPCs) and parliamentary secretaries, and ministers.

The Bills propose an increase of over Rs 22,000 per month in the emoluments of the legislators, including a hike in their salary from Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000 and a hike in the constituency allowance from Rs 20,000 and Rs 35,000. The water and electricity charges, too, have been hiked from the present Rs 1,500 to Rs 3,000. The travelling allowance has also been increased from Rs 500 to Rs 1,000 per day.

The minimum pension of former MLAs has been increased from Rs 14,000 to Rs 18,000 per month. The proposed hike will entail an additional burden of Rs 3.30 crore annually on the state exchequer in case of the MLAs, Rs 1.20 lakh in case of the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker, Rs 1.20 lakh in case of the chief parliamentary secretaries and parliamentary secretaries and Rs 7.20 lakh in case of the ministers.

The salary of the Chief Minister will witness an increase of Rs 5,000 and it will go up from Rs 34,000 to Rs 39,000. The salary of the ministers will be up from Rs 31,000 to Rs 36,000, of the ministers of state from Rs 28,000 to Rs 33,000, of the chief parliamentary secretaries from Rs 18,000 to Rs 23,000 and of the parliament secretaries from Rs 17,000 to Rs 22,000.

The salaries of the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker will be increased from Rs 31,000 and Rs 28,000 to Rs 36,000 and Rs 33,000 per month, respectively.

The Bills are likely to be passed tomorrow. Introducing the Bills, the Chief Minister attributed the proposed increase to a sharp rise in the cost of living.

Shimla, April 5
A delight for ornamental plant lovers, the gorgeous orchids are fast vanishing from the hills due to rapid degradation of the habitat and erratic and inadequate precipitation, which have driven some of the species to the verge of extinction.

While the Forest Department has put 47 medicinal plant species on the red list after carrying out a threat assessment, no attention is being paid to the orchids, the population of which is declining at an alarming pace.

Scientists are concerned as the state is home to more than 10 per cent of the orchid species recorded in the Indian Himalayan region. While the population and habitat of almost all 81 species found in the state has shrunk, two most endangered species, cypripedium cordigerum and cypripedium himalaicum (commonly called lady slipper), are already on Red Data Book, an unmistakable indication of the sharp degradation in environment. The other species face varying degree of threat, calling for immediate steps for their conservation.

“Orchids are highly habitat specific as they require peculiar micro-climate for growth. They germinate rather poorly in nature due to their nutritional complexities and are inherently slow growers. Their habitats are being destroyed and fragmented due to excessive human activity, particularly unregulated tourism, large-scale construction, fodder and fuel wood collection, overgrazing, forest fires, landslides, habitat fragmentation and hydroelectric projects,” explains Jagdeep Verma, Head of the Botany Department at the Shoolini Institute of Life Sciences and Management Sciences, Solan, who has been associated with an all-India project on the taxonomy of orchids.

In addition to habitat destruction, unscrupulous collection from the wild has played havoc with the orchids.

Species once in abundance in and around Shimla are rarely found. Similar is the situation in other parts of the state.

The orchids with medicinal properties like “salampanja, jeevak, rishbak, ridhi and vridhi” are the most threatened. Orchid tubers are still smuggled as the annual demand for “salampanja” is about 19,250 tonnes.

This does not augur well for the biodiversity of the state, says Verma, as the state represents the western limit of distribution to epiphytic orchids and only one such species (rhynchostylis retusa) is on record westwards from Jammu and Kashmir. Orchids need immediate attention for conservation.

Indeed, orchid cultivation can be promoted on a commercial scale in the mid and high hill areas and also in protected conditions of poly houses by providing the desired micro-climatic conditions.

A large number of farmers are already growing flowers and vegetables in poly houses.

Manali, April 5
Glaciologists have warned of more cloudbursts, flash floods and landslides in the north-west Himalayan river basins comprising the Beas, the Ravi, the Chenab and the Sutlej. These rivers have seen a significant decrease in the average annual discharge for the past 82 years due to receding glaciers in the region.

Studies conducted by glaciologists have put a question mark over the large-scale exploitation of rivers for generating 21,000 MW of power in the state. “Himalayan glaciers are reacting to the climate change and man-made water bodies. The increasing traffic should be checked in high-altitude areas,” says Dr MR Bhutyani, a glaciologist and Joint Director, Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment, who presented his studies on five river basins at an international symposium on climate change here.

The annual discharge in the five river basins has declined during the past 82 years, but a significant decrease has been observed in the past two decades.

The rise of 1.7°C in the winter temperature has been felt significantly in the Chenab basin, which has the maximum number of 989 glaciers covering 2,280 sq km area in the north-west Himalayas. The Sutlej has 334 glaciers covering a 1,515 sq km area, the Beas has 277 glaciers with a 598 sq km area, while the Ravi has the minimum 94 glaciers covering a 210 sq km area.

Dr Bhutiyani, Vishwas Kale, and NJ Pawar said the discharge in Sutlej reached the maximum level in 1990 due to the melting of glaciers.

Because of the excessive melting during the pre-1990 period, most of the 334 glaciers had become thin considerably, they added.

They said studies conducted during the past four decades had established that the glaciers receded at a faster rate during this period.

Floods of high magnitude have been seen in the past five decades in these rivers: 10 in the Sutlej, six in the Chenab, five in the Ravi and four in the Beas. “Moreover, winters have been unusually warmer by about 4.4°C on an average during the past two decades,” says Dr Bhutiyani.

The winter discharge in the Chenab basin, a new area being exploited for power potential, has shown a significant increase between 1969 and 1998.

“It has a large number of glaciers, which are melting,” they observed.

The spring discharge in the Beas has decreased during the period from 1961 to 1995. 

Shimla, April 5
Suspended ruling party MP from Kangra Rajan Sushant caused yet another embarrassment to the BJP when he sat on a day-long dharna on the Ridge against the “weak and ineffective” provisions of the Lokayukta Draft Bill, likely to be passed by the Assembly tomorrow.

Sushant, who camped in front of the statue of Mahatma Gandhi, said the proposed legislation would only create fear psychosis in the complainant’s mind as there was provision for one-year punishment if the complaint was found to be frivolous. “The government should have adopted the Lokayukta Act from the BJP-ruled Uttarakand and Karnataka and incorporated the suggestions of all, including Team Anna,” he said.

He said the Act aimed to provide protection to the corrupt rather than to punish them. “In case the Bill is passed in its present form, I will launch a mass movement against it with the help of like-minded people,” he cautioned. The Lok Sabha MP has already been suspended from the BJP for his anti-party activities.

Shimla, April 5
Barring Panchayati Raj Minister Jai Ram Thakur, the names of all ministers, including the Chief Minister, figure in the Congress charge sheet against the BJP regime in the state, which is ready for submission to the President of India.

Addressing a press conference here today, Chairman of the charge sheet committee GS Bali said the 1,000-page document included irregularities during the Dhumal regime, especially with respect to “putting Himachal on sale” in violation of Section 118 of the Tenancy and Land Reforms Act. The other members of the committee, Kuldeep Singh Pathania, Harshwardhan Chauhan and Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu, were also present.

“The charge sheet is replete with affidavits and proofs, and the names of the entire Cabinet, including the Chief Minister, figure in it prominently along with those of some bureaucrats,” he said. He said the charge sheet, which was ready, would first be submitted to the Congress high command and after its legal scrutiny, it would be presented to the President of India within 10 days.

Bali said the issue of purchase of excess land by several private universities and scams in the departments of Health, Food and Civil Supplies, HIMUDA, Home and Transport figured in the charge sheet. “We have got inputs from NGOs, individuals and the media whose names we will not disclose. We have also got some vital information under Right to Information Act,” he added.

Shimla, April 5
The inquiry report of the Benami Land Transactions Commission has questioned the legality of the Congress government’s earlier decision of granting the land acquired by Tibetan refugees illegally (benami) on lease while recommending the formulation of a sound policy for their resettlement with their number increasing three times over the past 60 years since their arrival in India.

The report of the commission, headed by Justice DP Sood (retd), which was tabled in the Assembly today, has come down heavily on the decision taken by the previous Congress regime of giving the land acquired illegally on lease to Tibetans through a notification issued on May 8, 2006.

“The commission differs with this view due to the legal position as Tibetans are only refugees who cannot acquire property. Moreover, this also amounts to violation of Section 118 of the Tenancy and Land Reforms Act, which bars the transfer of land from an agriculturist to a non-agriculturist,” it says.

It also mentions that the leasing out of the land to those who acquired it in violation of the norms by the government amounts to legalising an illegal act. The report stresses the need for formulating a policy both by the state legislature and the Centre for the rehabilitation of Tibetan refugees or else an ordinary citizen would think that the state is itself transgressing the law.

“Despite the Tenancy Act, Tibetans are illegally encroaching upon the law of the land by entering into benami transactions which take place with active connivance of locals under the garb of rehabilitation,” the report states. The report states that the government decision has raised controversial questions about the three-time increase in the Tibetan population in Himachal, which could jeopardise the basic rights of the residents of the state.

The report by the commission contains a list of 80 such properties where Tibetans are involved in the purchase of land. The previous Congress regime had in May 2006 taken a decision where the land acquired illegally was to be given on lease in favour of the Central Tibetan Relief Committee of the Dalai Lama at the rate of 10 per cent of the market value along with a token lease money.

The report states that Tibetans are entitled to only rehabilitation benefits as temporary refugees in India as per the guidelines of the Rehabilitation Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs. 

Dharamsala, April 5
Bhajan Hunjan and Ian Barrand, artists from the UK, are here for restoring a minor damage to oil paintings of famous artist Sobha Singh. The damage was caused to the paintings displayed at the Andretta-based art gallery of Sobha Singh due to humid weather conditions in Kangra district.

Barrand, while talking to The Tribune at Andretta today, said the problem of damage to oil paintings was inherent in countries like India where extreme weather conditions prevailed. In Kangra district, humid conditions prevailed during the monsoon that lead to the growth of fungus on oil paintings. This fungus started decaying organic matter in oil paintings.

He said in the Sobha Singh art gallery, most paintings were in a very good condition. However, a few paintings, including Sohni in Heaven, Snake Charmer and a portrait of the first President of India, Dr Rajendra Prasad, had developed some damage due to weathering.

These paintings had lost tiny flakes of paint due to fungus. The damage to these paintings had been restored.

Barrand said he had suggested to the family members of Sobha Singh that a dehumidifier should be installed in the gallery for increasing the life of the paintings.

Hunjan, who raised funds for the restoration of the paintings of Sobha Singh, is an art educator in the UK. Besides raising the funds, she is also actively participating in the restoration of the damaged paintings of Sobha Singh.

Talking to The Tribune, she said, “I met Sobha Singh as a child on his visit to the UK. Since then I am a fan of his paintings. I visited his art gallery at Andretta in 1989. I have been constantly in touch with the family members of Sobha Singh who are managing the gallery. We had been planning since long to get the health of rare paintings of Sobha Singh assessed from a professional. So, we hired the services of Barrand, who goes around the world to restore damaged paintings.”

Hirday Paul, general secretary of the Sobha Singh art gallery, said the visiting art experts had also given them valuable suggestions regarding the display of the paintings and the architecture of the gallery. On their suggestions, we have displayed the paintings of Sobha Singh on various themes like national heroes, spiritual personalities and landscapes.

Palampur, April 5
An awareness programme on Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Act, 2001 (PPV and FR Act), was organised at CSK Himachal Pradesh Agricultural University here recently.

Addressing progressive farmers, scientists and students, Dr PL Gautam, Chairman, PPV and FR Authority, who was the chief guest, declared that one centre of the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Authority would be opened at Palampur, which would cater to the needs of Himachal, J&K and Uttarakhand.

He elaborated about the registration and certification procedures and said the registration procedure would be simplified by making it online.

Dr VL Chopra, an eminent farm scientist and former Director-General, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, in his presidential address, said: “This Act is unique as farmers have been recognised as breeders in our country.”

Dr SK Sharma, Vice-Chancellor of the university, said among 34 plant biodiversity hot spots in the world, three were in India, so it was important to recognise and protect plant genetic resources in the country and the state.

Dr Desh Raj, Director, Extension Education, and Dr SP Sharma, Director, Research, were among others who spoke.

Dr Satish Paul, nodal officer, said the programme was sponsored by the Union Agriculture Ministry.

Kangra, April 5
Goldsmiths and jewellers from Kangra and Chamba districts have decided to extend their strike till April 7. They held a protest rally and set ablaze Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee’s effigy at the State Bank of Patiala Chowk here today.

The goldsmiths and jewellers gathered at the municipal stadium here, where they were addressed by their leaders who demanded the resignation of the Finance Minister for this anti-people act.

The protest was led by Kewal Malhotra, district president, Sarafa Association, and Tilak Raj Soni, state president, Tank Surankar Sudhar Saba Himachal Pradesh. They took out a protest rally from the stadium through the main market, Nehru Chowk, Tehsil Chowk, Dharamshala Road and SBOP Chowk and college road before converging at the stadium again.

Soni said by an increase in the excise duty the government would generate an income of Rs 150 crore annually, whereas during the past 18-day strike the nation had lost Rs 15,000 crore.

The goldsmiths decided to resort to a relay fast from Monday. Their shops remained closed on the 18th day today in support of their demands. 

Hamirpur, April 5
Though the state government has laid down clear provisions making wards of bona fide Himachalis eligible for the Combined Pre-Medical Entrance Test (CPMET) -2012 under the state quota, certain officials of HP University, Shimla, entrusted with the task of holding the test, are reportedly creating a confusion about this eligiblity condition for students who have studied outside the state.

The Assistant Registrar (Examination), HP University, Shimla, while answering queries of bona fide Himachalis living outside the state, has reportedly been telling them that their wards are eligible only if they have passed two examinations from any educational institution in the state.

While the state government, in an advertisement issued by HP University recently, has clearly mentioned in the first clause the eligibility criteria for children of bona fide Himachalis, officials of the examination branch are creating a confusion.

University officials argue that “if bona fide Himachalis living outside the state can afford education of their children outside the state then they should compete in the open category for the CPMET”.

A large number of bona fide Himachalis live outside the state for earning their livelihood.

Health Secretary Ali Raza Rizvi said, “The state government has laid down clear provisions making children of bona fide Himachalis eligible for the CPMET under the state quota, irrespective of the place of their study and there should be no confusion about this clause.” 

Bilaspur, April 5
The HP State Block Development Committees (BDCs) Association has taken an exception to injustice regarding recent enhancement in the honorarium (through annual Budget) of BDC chairmen and vice-chairmen. It has warned the government that the association will start a statewide agitation if their demands charter is not accepted and, particularly the injustice regarding their honorarium not done away with by April 6.

Talking to mediapersons at the Circuit House here yesterday, association state president Amar Singh Thakur, who is also chairman of the Bilaspur Sadar BDC, said a state-level deputation had met Chief Minister PK Dhumal at Shimla on March 30 and presented him a detailed memorandum regarding their issues.

He said the Chief Minister had assured them to do justice with them soon, but nothing had happened till now.

Amar Singh added that their other demands included provision of medical reimbursement for them or at least health insurance cover, appointment of full-time secretary in every BDC instead of the present system of the BDO occupying this post who had no time or tendency to perform this job, provision of suitable TA, provision of interest of their development funds being deposited with respective BDCs and abolition of DRDA as the nodal agency and allotment of funds of BDCs direct to the BDCs.