Shimla, February 16
Snowfall in tribal areas and other higher reaches and widespread rainfall has once again brought the state in the grip of a severe cold wave.

The fresh spell of snowfall has once again led to disruption of vehicular traffic to Lahaul-Spiti, Kinnaur and upper parts of Shimla district.

Most parts of Kinnaur, including Kalpa, Reckong Peo and Chitkul, have recorded almost two feet of snow. This has again led to disruption of power and telecommunication services in most parts of the district.

The Hindustan-Tibet road has been blocked at several points between Powari and Badhal. All schools in Kinnaur scheduled to reopen on February 18 have been closed till February 22.

The higher reaches of the state capital received snow last night. Traffic to Kufri, Narkanda, Rohru and Chopal was disrupted for the second day today. Traffic bound for Rampur Bushahr and Kinnaur was diverted via Basantpur.

The lower parts of the state were lashed by widespread rain. There was a steep decline in minimum and maximum temperatures due to the fresh spell of snow and rain.

The local Meteorological Centre forecast that rain and snow would continue for the next 24 hours and the weather was likely to clear up on February 18.

Manali: The cold wave tightened its grip as the upper Manali area and the higher reaches received a fresh spell of snowfall on Saturday, resulting in a considerable fall in temperature.

Icy winds forced most local residents to remain indoors. The Rohtang Pass, the Pir Panjal Ranges and the Solang ski slopes received snowfall. Skiing lovers were happy on seeing the thick layer of snow.

Tourists rushed to Nehru Kund and the Solang valley to enjoy snowfall. There was a festive atmosphere at places between Nehru Kund and the Solang valley. Snowfall brought delight to apple growers.

Chamba: Hills in the district received heavy snowfall since Friday night and low-lying areas received widespread rain. The Chamba-Shimla highway via Jot was blocked due to snow.

The hill resort of Khajjiar received snowfall, due to which roads to Dalhousie and Chamba were closed. Vikas Dutta, a hotel manager, said the glade of the lake and its environs were under snow.

Tourism stakeholders were optimistic as they expected a rush of tourists to Dalhousie and Khajjiar. Farmers said rain was beneficial to rabi and fruit crops of the area.

Kangra: People in the Kangra valley shivered due to heavy snowfall on the Dhauladhar ranges and its foothills on Saturday. There was widespread rain in the Kangra valley.

The mercury fell considerably and life was thrown out of gear, with school students being the worst affected. Icy winds forced people to stay indoors and markets wore a deserted look.

Shimla, February 16
With the Chinese company abandoning work on the 80-km-long Theog-Hatkoti-Rohru road, the state government has sent fresh tender documents to the World Bank, making a provision for dumping sites and quarries so that work on the road which is the lifeline of the apple belt can be completed at the earliest.

Fresh tender documents were sent to the World Bank which is funding the project earlier this week. With cost escalation over seven years, the project cost has now been worked out at Rs 303 crore. Only about 20 per cent of the work has been completed.

The contract had been given to the Chinese firm in 2007 for Rs 226 crore, almost Rs 80 crore less than the firm which made the second lowest bid.

It has now been decided to undertake the work in two phases, the first being the 46-km-long stretch from Theog to Khara Pathar and the second the 34-km-long stretch between Khara Pathar and Rohru.

Global tenders will be invited for the project once the documents are approved and sent back by the World Bank. This cumbersome process can take at least six months and only then can the work be started.

This time, the PWD authorities have made a provision for dumping sites in the tender document, which will be made available to the firm on payment. The Chinese firm had a tough time making arrangements with local residents for dumping debris.

Quarrying sites will be identified and made available to the firm at both ends of the road stretch so that there is no delay and work is completed within a short span of time.

“We have sent the fresh tender documents to the World Bank. The moment approval is granted, we will invite global tenders so that the road can be completed at the earliest,” said Pradeep Chauhan, PWD Engineer-in-Chief.

Work on the road had come to a halt after the Longijian Road and Construction Company could not accomplish it. The government decided to cancel the contract awarded to it and start the project afresh.

Work on the other road project being executed by the Chinese firm in Una is nearing completion. Work on the black thick top on about a 10-km-long stretch remains to be done.

The only area of concern on the Una-Mehatpur road is the 12 bridges. Only four are complete while work on four is underway and four have yet to taken up.

Bilaspur, February 16
Hundreds of oustees and other families from villages in Bilaspur, Mandi and Solan districts affected by the NTPC Kol Dam project gathered at the project site near here on Thursday and started a protest for their long-pending demands.

They held a rally and raised slogans against the project management. They said they were given only false assurances in the last 12 years and now wanted concrete action as the project would be wound up in the next few months.

They blocked vehicles of the companies engaged by the NTPC for the construction of the dam and did not allow any construction work for five hours.

Their leaders said demands of employment by the NTPC or Rs 25 lakh per family, 25 per cent seats in the proposed hydro-engineering college, free power, drinking and irrigation facilities, health cover and education for children must be met within a stipulated time.

They threatened that they would intensify the agitation and not allow the construction of the dam to go on if their demands were not accepted at the earliest. They were led by Babu Ram, Lekh Ram Bansal, Brij Lal Bansal, Chotta Ram Jamthali, Krishan Lal Chaudhary, Sulekh Chand Rana, Ashok Sharma, Anil Thakur, Anil Bhardwaj and Anil Sharma.

A strong posse of police personnel led by the Additional District Magistrate remained present on the spot to avoid any untoward incident.

Udaipur, February 16
The cost of the multi-purpose sports stadium at Udaipur in Lahaul-Spiti district shot up 12 times in 26 years, but the Public Works Department (PWD) is yet to complete the work.

The cost shot up from Rs 10.71 lakh in 1986 to Rs 1.19 crore in 2012. The PWD razed the old school building and raised an ITI building and a venue for political rallies.

Documents obtained under the RTI Act by activist Sudershan Thakur show the plight of the stadium and the alleged official corruption and apathy.

PWD engineers and officials are clueless as to who laid the foundation stone of the stadium in 1986. Local residents say then Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh had presided over the ceremony.

The Additional Chief Secretary, Tribal Development Department, sought a detailed report immediately in a letter dated December 21 last.

The PWD has yet to fix responsibility. In a representation to the Chief Secretary, the RTI activist and residents have demanded a Vigilance or judicial inquiry.

According to PWD documents, the department spent Rs 1.19 crore on the stadium, but it could not be completed as it awaited forest clearance.

The private company executing the 120-MW Miyar power project was given forest clearance in six months. The PWD had axed and damaged many green trees, including juniper, during the initial stage of construction.

VC Pharka, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, also heading the Tribal Development Department, said they sought a detailed status report from the Lahaul-Spiti Deputy Commissioner, but it was delayed as the district was snow-bound.

Chamba, February 16
The Himachal Pradesh Congress Kisan Cell has sought a probe into the seed distribution of maize, wheat and vegetables during the previous BJP regime, whether the seed had been provided to actual farmers or to non-agriculturists in the state.

In a press statement here today, state vice-president of the cell Sudarshan Thakur said in future maize, wheat and vegetable seeds would be given to farmers who possessed agriculture land in the revenue records.

Sudarshan said in this connection he had urged the state government for timely distribution of seeds prior to the onset of the crop season besides fertilisers, insecticides and pesticides.

For paying special attention to orchardists, he urged the government to provide insecticides and pesticides in time so that their fruit crops might not be affected by any disease.

The kisan cell would constantly seek the financial assistance granted by the state to farmers, vegetable growers and orchardists from time to time, Sudarshan added.

Kangra, February 16
Basant Panchami was celebrated with gaiety and fervour at old Kangra yesterday. Cultural programmes were presented on the occasion.

Students of various schools and artistes of the drama division of the District Public Relations Office performed. Youths flew kites from atop the Kangra Fort and houses at old Kangra.

Subdivisional Magistrate Ajit Bhardwaj was the chief guest. The function was presided over by municipal council chief Suman Verma.