Kangra, May 22
The constructon of a multi-utility complex under one roof at Tehsil Chowk in Kangra town has remained unaccomplished for the past two decades.

The foundation stone laid for the project was found removed and was reinstalled at the site but despite assurances by the BJP government, the project has failed to take off.

Shanta Kumar, the then Chief minister of Himachal Pradesh, with an eye on the development of this temple town laid the foundation stone of the complex, comprising Bachat Bhawan, shopping complex, coffee house and an auditorium, at a prime location on November 28, 1992. The same day he laid the foundation stone of the Kangra bus stand amid protests which has now proved to be a boon.

The Shanta-led BJP government was sacked by the Central government on December 15, 1992 following demolition of the Babri Masjid on December 6, 1992.

The project remained limited to a foundation stone and the site is now being used for parking vehicles and as a garbage dump. The project remained unattended despite Dhumal’s two stints as Chief Minister.

Following the removal of the foundation stone in July last year, Shanta Kumar had communicated to the district authorities that if the government was not starting the project due to the paucity of funds, he would provide Rs 1 crore from his MPLAD fund in four instalments. The district administration moved swiftly after a nudge from Shanta.

RS Gupta, Deputy Commissoner, Kangra, in July 2011 said the government had decided to bring the project to fruition at a cost of Rs 4.2 crore, funds for which were being provided to the district administration by the World Bank.

Briefing about the project, Gupta had said the project would have a parking space for at least 100 vehicles, besides a shopping complex in which poor needy roadside vendors and rehri wallahs would be given a priority.

The Deputy Commissioner had also said on the top floor of the commercial complex, banks and business centres would be accommodated.

Officials, on condition of anonymity, confirmed that there had been no progress on this project since July despite assurances.

Neither was Shanta Kumar’s offer of Rs 1 crore accepted by the government nor was the project accomplished by the state government on its own.

Nurpur, May 22
In the wake of overall decline in fish production in water reservoirs throughout the country, the Government of India has recently formulated an ambitious project, “cage fish farming,” under the National Mission for Protein Supplements (NMPS) for boosting reservoir fish production. Himachal Pradesh is among the 12 states across the country which have been identified by the Central government for the implementation of this scheme.

Under this scheme, one-time grant of Rs 6.68 crore has been earmarked for Himachal Pradesh, which covers the capital cost of the construction of four batteries of cages with facilities for sheds for the storage of materials and stay of staff, input cost, including seed, feed and other management cost, project implementation cost and marketing facilities also.

According to information, the technology of cage fish farming for fish production has so far not been evolved or standardised by any of the national institutes. Therefore, these funds have been allocated by the Government of India to the beneficiary states to run this pilot project.

According to Gurcharan Singh, officiating director and chief executive officer, Fisheries Department, the scheme was being implemented in the state’s two reservoirs, Pong Reservoir in Kangra and Gobind Sagar in Bilaspur through four fish cooperative societies.

Members of these societies would be sent on exposure visits to the states where this type of farming was being undertaken. “Initially, the state will invite tenders for the installation of cages and to achieve the envisaged fish production target. Tenders will be on a turnkey basis and after one year, cage fish farming will continue through four identified fish cooperative societies,” he said.

He also expressed hope that implementation of this project would improve the socio-economic status of the reservoirs’ fishermen in the hill state and improvement of fish production in water bodies.

Manali, May 22
Poor progress on the construction of a link road at Vashisht village has put thousands of domestic and overseas tourists and local villagers to inconvenience. Residents of Vashisht village, 4 km from here, have resented the construction of the road being carried out at a snail’s pace.

The Vashisht link road is being re-constructed by carpeting it with a layer of cement and concrete to save it from the vagaries of weather.

A portion of this road to the holy shrine of Rishi Vashisht and hot water springs is being re-constructed between the Vashisht temple and the Khanoni nullah. Villagers said though the matter had been brought several times to the notice of HPPWD officials, no drastic step had been taken despite assurances given to them to increase the number of labourers and mixing machines.

They alleged that a single mixer deployed for road construction, remains out of order most of the time. Besides, peak tourist season would also get adversely affected if the road construction was not carried out on a war footing, they added.

Besides, visitors are also being put to inconvenience due to stones and construction material lying scattered on the road. Ashish Mehta and Rashmin Dessai, tourists from Gujarat, said: “It is difficult to reach the temple and hot water springs unless the constructon work is complete”.

Local villagers though happy with the concrete road are anguished over the poor and slow progress in its construction. Polu Ram Thakur and Prem Chand Thakur, local residents, said though the road construction with concrete base was necessary, the construction of concrete road must be geared up so that thousands of tourists, devotees and villagers are not put to inconvenience.

Solan, May 22
With a view to creating awareness about the environment, the first international “Fascination of Plants Day” was celebrated at the School of Bioengineering and Food Technology of Shoolini University.

The programme, which was launched under the aegis of the European Plant Science Organisation (EPSO) in 40 countries across the globe, aims at infusing fascination for plants among the people so as to make them aware of the importance of plant science in agriculture, its importance in ensuring sustainability by producing various foods and also for various non-food products such as paper, timber, chemicals, energy and pharmaceuticals.

Dr Dinesh Chatanta, coordinator of the programme, said it would help people realise the importance of plant sciences in the social and environmental landscape.

“Plants are fascinating. From one little seed planted in the soil, many green lives can arise from small herbs to big trees, or from ornamental flowers to substantial crops, which all animals and mankind need to survive on the planet. Therefore, there is a dire need to preserve our environment,” said Dr SK Srivastava, deputy director, Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India, Botanical Survey of India, Dehradun, who was the chief guest on the occasion.

The Society of Bio and Food Technocrats was constituted on the occasion and a product called ‘tubo-plant’ was also launched by the Tissue Culture Unit of the School of Biotechnology of the university.

Dr PK Khosla, Vice-Chancellor, Shoolini University, said, “We should come forward and play our role in preserving the environment and conserving as much as we can, as this alone can assure a fruitful sojourn for the mankind”.

Around 40 countries are running the campaign and in India, Shoolini University is among the six institutions that had taken the step to spread awareness in this field.

Around 60 students from various government schools of Solan participated in different competitions, including model making, painting, poster presentation and paper presentation. In the junior section of model making competition, Riya, Tanvi, Akash and Vipul bagged the first position, whereas in the senior section, Ajay Thakur from Shoolini University bagged the first position. In the painting competition, Divanshi from Geeta Adarsh Vidyalaya bagged the first position, whereas Arushi Tomar from Shoolini University bagged the first position. In poster-making competition, Geeta Adarsh Vidyalaya came first whereas in the senior section Ajay bagged the first position.

Guest lecturer Dr Duni Chand from the Department of Biotechnology, HP University, also addressed the students.

With as many as four nursing colleges becoming functional in the state capital, the Nursing Week was celebrated with much fanfare. Every institution organised one programme or the other and some like Shiwalik Nursing College organised a series of activities from May 12 to 19.

On the opening day, a cultural programme was organised in the college and a group of 25 girls went to the Akal College of Nursing in Badu Sahib to participate in various events like debate on euthanasia, calligraphy, poster competition, best out of waste and flower arrangement contests. The group won eight prizes in theses competitions. Students also staged a street play on hypertension at the Sipi fair in Mashobra which won wide applause from the gathering.

Social activist SN Joshi, who is also the consultant of the Himachal Pradesh Voluntary Health Association, delivered a lecture on the ill-effects of tobacco on health.

He said nurses should not confine themselves to patient care and rather play an active role in making people quit bad habits like smoking and tobacco chewing. They should contribute to make the state smoke-free.

On the concluding day, a fashion show was organised in which girls displayed both the traditional and western attires (see photo). The programme culminated with a cultural show and prize distribution function. Chairman of the Shiwalik Educational Trust Khushi Ram gave away prizes to the winners.

Chamba, May 22
In the wake of colossal projects of more than 500-MW power capacity coming up upstream of the Ravi from Chamba town in near future, the Chamba-Bharmour highway passing through the town would not be feasible to withstand the huge load of vehicular traffic.

Stating this here recently, Navneet Chowfla, convener of the Save Chamba Forum, mooted an idea for the construction of a bypass via Mangla-Bhadia and down to Rajera linking the Chamba-Bharmour highway.

Chowfla said the proposal, if considered by the state government, would avoid traffic jams and pollution in the hugely populated stretch between Chamba town to the Mulga vicinity.

Chamba town had already suffered a lot in the past as heavy machinery movement of hydroelectric projects had taken a heavy toll on the tranquillity and ecology of the area, Chowfla said.

“It is high time to gear up the Save Chamba campaign, thereby saving the beauty and peace of the historic town of Chamba for future generations,” he said.

Chowfla urged the state government to preserve the old Victoria bridge of the colonial period at the local Manjari Garden Complex as it was the reminder of the pristine glory and heritage of the town.

He said its remains were still lying near the new Sheetla bridge from where it was demolished a decade ago.