Dharamsala, January 17
There is a ray of hope for Pong Dam oustees from Himachal Pradesh who have been fighting the Rajasthan government for over 50 years to get land allotted to them in lieu of their land acquired for the construction of Pong Dam and its reservoir.

The special leave petition of the Rajasthan government in case of Ashwani Sharma, a Pong Dam oustee from Kangra, has been rejected by the Supreme Court (SC). In its order delivered on January 2, the SC upheld the Himachal Pradesh High Court (HC) order directing the Rajasthan government to allot land to Ashwani Sharma in Anupgarh district.

Talking to The Tribune, Ashwani Sharma said 243 kanals of his agricultural land was acquired on March 31, 1961 and 20,722 farmers in 339 villages of Kangra district lost their homes and agricultural land due to acquisition for the dam.

Rajasthan was the major beneficiary of the Pong Dam. The Centre allotted land to oustees in Rajasthan. The people affected were forced to migrate to another state. Many farmers found that the land allotted to them in Ganganagar district was already in the possession of local residents.

Oustees had been running from pillar to post for over 50 years to get the irrigated land reserved for them in Ganganagar and Anupgarh districts. The Rajasthan government, instead of removing the encroachers, had been offering the oustees unfertile and useless land in Bikaner district.

Ashwani Sharma said he had moved a writ petition in the HC to seek justice. In its order on March 29, 2011, the HC told him to petition the Rajasthan government and show that the land in the area reserved for Pong Dam oustees was available for allotment.

Ashwani Sharma said he opted for land in Anupgarh district, which was still reserved for the oustees, as per revenue records, but was in illegal possession of local residents and the Rajasthan government did not allot him the land.

He then filed a contempt petition. In reply to proceedings, the Rajasthan government admitted in court that the land sought was in illegal possession of trespassers and the Anupgarh Subdivisional Magistrate had been directed to get the land vacated.

In the meantime, the Rajasthan government moved a special leave petition in the SC to challenge the HC order, which 
was rejected. Ashwani Sharma expressed the hope that the case would serve as a precedent for Pong Dam oustees.

Shimla, January 17
The long wait for snowfall finally ended today with the town and adjoining tourist destinations Kufri, Mashobra and Narkanda lashed by heavy rain and snow, bringing cheer to hoteliers and farmers.

The snow-clad Dhauladhar ranges on Thursday. Photo: Ashok Raina; (right) Tourists enjoy snowfall near Manali on Thursday. Photo: MC Thakur

There was mild snowfall after Christmas and today’s snowfall was the heaviest this winter. There was heavy snowfall at Kufri, Mashobra and Narkanda since the morning, disrupting vehicular traffic in many parts of Shimla, Kinnaur and Lahaul-Spiti districts.

The tribal areas of Kinnaur, Lahaul-Spiti, Bharmour and Pangi received heavy snowfall. There were reports of Manali, Solang and Dalhousie being covered under a white mantle.

The local Meteorological Centre issued a warning of heavy snowfall at a few places in Chamba, Lahaul-Spiti, Kullu, Kangra, Kinnaur and Shimla districts during the next 48 hours.

A warning was issued about heavy rain and thundershowers lashing the mid-hill and low-hill areas in Una, Hamirpur, Bilaspur, Solan and Sirmaur districts during the next 48 hours.

Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh directed all Deputy Commissioners to make prior arrangements to ensure that roads remained open, people did not face inconvenience and normal life was not disrupted.

Vehicular movement beyond Kufri and Khara Pathar was disrupted. Buses bound for Rampur were diverted via Basantpur. Traffic on National Highway 22 was disrupted at Powari in Kinnaur district. Bus services on many link roads were affected.

Rain and snow brought relief to farmers and fruit growers as the chilling requirement for the apple crop could now be met. Hoteliers and others associated with the tourism industry were delighted as reports of snow were likely to attract tourists in large numbers.

There was a steep decrease in minimum and maximum temperatures. With a western disturbance as the upper air system over north Pakistan and adjoining areas of Jammu and Kashmir, there was a possibility of inclement weather and more snowfall in the next 48 hours.

The minimum temperature in Shimla was 3°C, Sundernagar 4.4°C, Bhuntar 2.8°C, Kalpa -3.2°C, Dharamsala 9.4°C, Una 7.8°C, Saluni 2.5°C, Nahan 8.7°C, Keylong -3°C, Palampur 6.5°C, Solan 5°C and Manali -0.6°C.

Manali: The town and adjoining areas received a fresh spell of snow on Thursday, renewing cold wave conditions in the upper Kullu valley.

There was a fresh spell of snowfall at the ski slopes in the Solang valley, bringing smiles on the faces of winter sports lovers who had come from various parts of the country.

Tourists in Manali came out to have fun. There was a festive atmosphere at various tourist places. The fresh spell of snowfall brought cheer to those associated with the tourism industry.

The 14,000-foot-high Bhrigu ski slopes and the 12,000-foot-high Hamta slopes also received snowfall. Icy winds lashed the area throughout the day.

Mandi: Farmers heaved a sigh of relief on Thursday as the month-long dry spell ended. Intermittent spells of rain in the lower region and snow in the apple belt brought cheer to them.

Several parts of Kullu and Shimla districts reported a fresh spell of snowfall, ranging from 3 cm to 10 cm. “We have been waiting for rain as apple needs about 12,000 chilling hours,” said Nakul Khullar, an orchardist at Naggar.

“Snow is essential for the regeneration of water sources and takes care of water shortage in summer,” said Hitender Thakur, an engineer-turned-farmer. The wheat crop had sprouted and started yellowing due to the dry spell.

The rain came as a much-needed boost for the crop. “The dry spell has created conditions conducive to yellow rust as its host feeds on local shrubs,” farmers said.

Deputy Director for Agriculture AR Sharma said rain and snow would benefit wheat and vegetable crops. Rain would take care of the yellowing of the crop if it continued, he added.

Kangra: The Kangra valley shivered on Thursday following heavy snowfall on the Dhauladhar ranges. The sky remained overcast since the morning and it drizzled intermittently. The sky was partly clear only for a few minutes.

Most people remained indoors and life was thrown out of gear. Schoolchildren were the worst sufferers. Farmers had been looking forward to heavy rain. An agricultural expert said less rain would have an adverse affect on crops.

Palampur: The region received heavy rain and snow on Thursday, disrupting life in the valley. Upper Dhauladhar and Chhota Bhangal reaches received heavy snow and lower reaches were lashed by heavy showers.

Most markets wore a deserted look. The shortage of kerosene, liquefied petroleum gas, fuelwood and charcoal added to the problems of residents.

Agricultural experts termed the rain and snow as beneficial to crops, especially fruit crops. They said the timely rain would benefit the wheat crop and help in the flowering of apple.

Bathinda, January 17
The 86-year-old rail motor car will soon start chugging with a new look on the heritage Kalka-Shimla track. It was withdrawn about six months ago because of worn-out wheels replacement which was not available immediately.

Divisional Railway Manager, Ambala division, PK Sanghi today said here that a fresh set of wheels had now been procured and the rail motor car would shortly start running again on the Kalka-Shimla track.

Sanghi said the popular set of two rail cars had been refurbished with a new colour scheme and it might take a few more days to complete the work. The rail car was withdrawn in July last because with worn-out wheels its operation was unsafe.

The rail car has a freedom related history attached to it as it carried Mahatma Gandhi to Shimla in 1945 to have talks with Viceroy Wavell about the British leaving India. It has been running on the UNESCO heritage rail track since 1927.

The single-coach rail car with an inbuilt engine and transparent fiber-glass roof had over the years become very popular with domestic and foreign tourists. It has the capacity to carry about 18 passengers. 

Panchkula, January 17
Gurmeet and Dharampal, nephews of Doon MLA Ram Kumar Chaudhary, wanted in the Jyoti murder case were arrested by the Panchkula police here today. They confessed that they had helped him in killing Jyoti.

Now, only one accused in the murder case, Paramjeet, is absconding, but the police is hopeful of nabbing him soon.

Both of the nephews were also produced in the court today and sent on a police remand of five days.

“During initial interrogations, Gurmeet and Dharampal told us that they had helped Chaudhary to execute the crime as Chaudhary was really fed up of the girl,” said a police official.

The nephews revealed to the police that Chaudhary had consulted them several times on how he should get rid of her.

As per plan, Dharampal had gone with Chaudhary to pick up Jyoti from her paying guest accommodation in Sector 21, Chandigarh, on the pretext of taking her out and Gurmeet came later with Paramjeet.

It was a day back when the police arrested truck driver Tilak Raj who had run the truck over Jyoti to smash her head. Tilak Raj is also in police remand for five days.

It was during his remand period that Chaudhary had said how he and Dharampal, on the pretext of taking Jyoti for an outing for three days, got her in his car.

He tried to convince her in the car that as he was busy due to the elections, he could not continue relations with her, but she threatened she would tell his wife everything. Jyoti had also threatened that she would tell his wife that she was carrying his child.

He then called Gurmeet and Paramjeet and they strangulated her and a truck was run over her to smash her head near Sector 21, Panchkula. 

Shimla, January 17
The Virbhadra government has decided to get allegations of irregularities in the construction of the Rs 385-crore Shah Nehar irrigation project in Kangra probed with the issue also figuring prominently in a chargesheet submitted by the Congress while in the Opposition.

Interestingly, the Congress, which had made a lot of hue and cry about the alleged irregularities in the 45-km-long Shah Nehar project while in the Opposition, is getting assistance from a few senior BJP dissident leaders from Kangra in making the probe possible. Some of these disgruntled BJP leaders have reportedly met some ministers in the Virbhadra regime, assuring them that all the documentary evidence will be provided in case of a probe.

Irrigation and Public Health Minister Vidya Stokes confirmed that the government would be holding a probe into the reports of alleged irregularities in the execution of Shah Nehar project. She admitted that the issue had figured prominently even in the Congress chargesheet submitted to the President and the Governor.

“The allegations will be looked into and in case there is an evidence of irregularities, those responsible for the lapses will not be spared,” she said. There had been allegations about the use of sub-standard material and purchase of certain components at exorbitant rates, leading to loss and even breach at certain places.

In fact, some of the BJP dissident leaders from the anti-Dhumal camp, too, are keen that a probe should be ordered by the Congress regime. With Dhumal loyalist Ravinder Singh Ravi being the IPH Minister during the BJP regime, they would love to see him being “dragged” into the controversy.

The agreement for the construction of the Shah canal was signed between Punjab and Himachal in 1983. The initial cost of the project was Rs 143 crore, which on account of cost escalation has shot up to over Rs 385 crore. The project would provide irrigation facility to 15,287 hectares of area in the state falling on both the banks of the Beas below the Pong Dam. The project on the completion would provide irrigation facility to 93 villages in Kangra district.

While Himachal was to contribute 40 per cent cost, Punjab had to contribute 60 per cent. However, Punjab contributed only Rs 66.73 crore against Rs 88.49 crore that it had to pay as its share. The Union Government has now contributed 90 per cent cost of the project under the Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme, while the remaining 10 per cent has been contributed in 60:40 ratio by Punjab and Himachal.

Mandi, January 17
Union Minister for Surface Transport and National Highways CP Joshi has directed Chief Engineer A Srivastava to examine the grievances of villagers of four panchayats in the Dadour-Naulakha four-lane section of National Highway 21 and submit a report soon.

A delegation of the Joint Struggle Samiti led by convener Joginder Walia and including Chet Ran Naik, Vijay Abrol and Vijay Thakur met Joshi and Rajya Sabha member Sitaram Yechury, who is the Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Roads and Highways.

It apprised them of the anomaly in the proposed four-lane alignment of the National Highway 21 stretch from Bilaspur to Ner Chowk. They demanded that the proposed 4.741-km stretch between Naulakha and Dadour be made a bypass so that new alignment passed through barren land.

“The alignment from Dadour through Bhour and Kanaid to Ner Chowk is being kept 24 metres wide while the rest of the highway is being kept 45 metres wide,” they pointed out.

The delegation pleaded that over 20,000 people would lose their means of livelihood as the proposed height of the existing road would be raised by 3 feet to 12 feet and the road would have fencing.

It told the minister that there were 12 major villages and link roads and pedestrian paths linked five schools, three hospitals, six places of worship and two major sources of drinking water. “The propose alignment will almost delink those,” it resented.

Joshi listened to their grievances and directed the Chief Engineer to submit a report. The Chief Engineer was told to explore the possibility of a bypass with a 5 per cent variation in the Rs 2,670-crore budget for the project.

Walia said they had been making rounds of the National Highway Authority of India officials, the Chief Minister and district administration officers over the last few months to get the alignment changed,but to no avail. “We hope to get justice from the ministry,” he said.

New Delhi, January 17
The Supreme Court today summoned the Chief Secretaries of Himachal Pradesh and five other states for not responding to its notice issued in a PIL case relating to thousands of children who had gone missing and remained untraced.

A three-member Bench headed by Chief Justice Altamas Kabir also directed the Chief Secretaries of Gujarat, Goa, Tamil Nadu, Orissa and Arunachal Pradesh to be present in the court on February 5 for their failure to file a response.

According to the PIL, as many as 1.17 lakh children were reported missing between January 2008 and January 2010 and over 41,000 of them still remained untraced for want of prompt action by the police.

The SC today passed an order directing the police in all the states to immediately register an FIR and start investigation whenever a complaint was filed about any missing child. Each police station should have a special juvenile unit as envisaged in the Juvenile Justice Act, it said.

Every police station should have a special juvenile police officer to take care of children in need of protection, conduct investigation into complaints of missing children and coordinate with the child welfare committee concerned, the SC said.

Today’s order should be sent to all the police stations, it said. According to the petitioner, Bachpan Bachao Andolan, hundreds of children are reported missing every day and at least 100 of them remain untraced.

Shimla, January 17
An agreement for the execution of 1,320 MW Buxar Thermal Power Project was signed between the Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVN) and the Bihar Government in New Delhi today.

The MoU was signed in the presence of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and RP Singh, CMD, SJVN.

RP Singh said the Buxar project to be set up at Chausa in Bihar would generate 9,828 million units of electricity.

The cost of construction at the current price level will be Rs 8,218 crore, resulting into a levellised tariff of Rs 2.80 per unit. The plant will be constructed by using super critical technology and the annual requirement of coal will be 6.25 MT.

The SJVN owns and operates the country’s largest 1,500-MW Nathpa Jhakri Hydro Power Station in Himachal Pradesh, while its 412-MW Rampur Hydro Electric Project is scheduled to be commissioned in September 2013. The SJVN will also be commissioning a 47.6-MW wind power project in Maharashtra in June 2013.

He said the SJVN would be implementing two more hydroelectric projects in Himachal Pradesh, three in Uttarakhand, one in Nepal and two in Bhutan. 

Palampur, January 17
The regional centre of the Tea Board of India, coming up here, will help in the revival of the tea industry in the Kangra valley, which has been passing through a serious crisis these days. This was stated by Assembly Speaker and local legislator Brij Bihari Lal Butail yesterday.

He was addressing tea growers at Baijnath, 15 km from here, last evening. He added that the Union Ministry of Commerce had assured full support to the tea industry in the Kangra valley.

Butail told tea growers that the tea industry was in crisis all over India as all old tea bushes were due for replacement. He said the tea industry needed reinvestment, but this significant fact had been ignored, which resulted in the decline of tea production.

Butail said the Ministry of Commerce had come to the rescue of tea growers in the valley with a project and planned to replace old tea bushes under a time-bound plan. He said a survey would be conducted for the revival of abandoned tea gardens in Kangra, Chamba and Mandi districts.

He said stress would be laid on the production of organic tea, which could fetch a better price because of its high demand in the international market.

He said the Tea Board of India had fixed a target to boost the tea production in the Kangra valley from 9 lakh kg per year to 20 lakh kg per year in the next 10 years.

A delegation of the Kangra Valley Tea Growers Association earlier urged Butail that the government provide transport subsidy for transportation of tea from Palampur to Kolkata.

Hamirpur, January 17
The Himachal Pradesh Shikshak Mahasangh has urged the state government to appoint craft and home science teachers in government schools, besides adjusting bal sevikas working in the HP Child Development Council against the posts of JBT.

After holding a meeting of the mahasangh here, office-bearers of the teachers’ body have demanded paying them two increments, implementing two-tier for the CPF, directly recruiting headmasters and giving all benefits under revised pay scales to all categories of teachers.

The mahasangh has also urged the state government to invite them for talks to discuss the pending issues. 

Bilaspur, January 17
Raj Kumar of Harlog village, near here, was injured seriously when his licenced gun reportedly went off due to his own mistake earlier today.

He was first rushed to the Regional Hospital here and then to the IGMC, Shimla. The police has recorded his statement and registered a case.

He said in his statement that he was going to Harlog bazaar with his loaded gun on his shoulder due to fear of leopards during evening hours. He said he slipped on the narrow hilly track of his village and his gun fell down on the ground. When he tried to lift it, the trigger of the gun went off and he received multiple injuries.

Reports said Raj Kumar, a serving soldier in the armed forces, who is on leave, is stable at the IGMC, Shimla.

Nurpur, January 17
The Indora police in this subdivision today registered a case of attempt to commit suicide by Udhit Baniyal (22) of Kubbar village. He reportedly consumed a poisonous tablet last night and was rushed to the Community Health Centre, Indora, from where he was referred to the Tanda medical college in Kangra.

DSP Rajinder Jaswal said a case under Section 309, IPC, had been registered against him. He said the accused had had a love marriage in the court in November last year, but after some time his wife left him and went back to her parents. The accused was in depression as his wife refused to return and he took this extreme step.