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Himachal Day
Heritage insensitivity irks panel
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Rain heaps misery on orchardists
Hodson Run held at Lawrence School
HLP denies chances of merger with Congress
HP wants ITBP to stay on at J&K border
Financial mess left by BJP cause of concern: Bali
Five-day Navratri fair begins at Sundernagar
Devotees at the inauguration of the Navratri fair at Sundernagar on Monday. Photo: Mahesh Chander Sharma
13 injured in Bilaspur road accidents
In-laws blamed for woman’s death
1 killed, 17 hurt in mishaps
Women for shifting of liquor vend
Lecture on Internet connectivity today
Man booked for thrashing woman
Villagers protest against cement factory
Woman booked for slapping constable
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Govt to spend Rs 1,014 crore for SCs, STs
Tribune Reporters
Kullu, April 15
Greeting people on the 66th Himachal Day today, the Chief Minister unfurled the national flag at the historic Dhalpur Maidan, inspected the parade in an open jeep, took the salute of an impressive march past presented by the police, Home Guards and NCC contingents. Addressing a large gathering, Virbhadra said there was a time when six villages had electricity and 331 villages had drinking water facility, but today every household had electricity and 70 per cent piped water. Virbhadra said the focus of the government was on socially weaker sections, including the Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled tribes (STs), for uniform development of the common man. He added Rs 1,014 crore would be spent for the welfare of Scheduled Castes under the SC sub-plan and Rs 369 crore under the tribal sub-plan. The social service sector was the top priority with Rs 1,371 crore (34 per cent) budget for this, he added. He recounted the budget announcements like 80 per cent subsidy on the anti-hail nets to save fruit crops from hailstorms, Rs 10 lakh each for improving agri-infrastructure in all 68 selected gram panchayats under the Mukhyamantri Adarsh Krishi Gaon Yojana, Rs 1,000 skill development allowance for youth, Rs 1,500 per month for persons with disabilities and Rs 75,000 grant under the Rajiv Awas Yojana and other housing schemes under which 10,000 houseless would get houses this year. He reiterated that Rs 363 crore would be spent on improving power distribution system to give reliable and quality power to all consumers. The domestic consumers were getting Rs 270 crore as subsidy on electricity charges, and Rs 175 crore subsidies on three dals, edible oil and iodized salt to all ration card holders under the food subsidy scheme. He said schoolchildren diagnosed with critical or congenital illness were getting free treatment under the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram under which Rs 10 crore was being spent this year. Virbhadra said the welfare and empowerment of women was getting top priority and the CCTV cameras would be installed in Shimla and other important towns for ensuring safety of women. “20 per cent women will be recruited as constable and sub-inspector level in the police,” he added. He conferred the Himachal Gaurav Purskar, Civil Service Award and Prerna Strotra Award, respectively, on Padma Shri Vijay Sharma, an artist and historian from Chamba in art and culture, Rs 2.5 lakh Civil Services Award to 38 BRTF (GREF) of Deepak Project (Border Road Organisation) for keeping open roads in Lahaul-Spiti, Prarena Sarotra Award (NGO category) to Hamirpur-based NGO for rendering humanitarian services by providing free dead body van service in the state and gave a cash award of Rs 2.5 lakh, received by Hem Raj Chadda, its coordinator and Abdul Gani, a philanthropist from Chamba, who had donated blood over 175 times. He got Rs 21,000 as cash prize. Rural Development Minister Anil Sharma, Kullu MLA Maheshwar Singh, Banjar MLA Karan Singh, Anni MLA Khub Ram, Vikramaditya Singh, chairman HP State Sports, Cultural and Environment Organisation Chief Secretary Sudripta Roy, DGP, B Kamal Kumar and other officials were present. Rs
463 crore to expand power grid
SHIMLA: Agriculture Minister Sujan Singh Pathania said Rs 10 lakh would be spent in every panchayat under the model agriculture village scheme so that basic facilities could be made available to farmers. Pathania presided over the Himachal Day function held at the historic Ridge Maidan here today. “It is with the objective of modernising agriculture so as to maximise the income of the farmers that efforts are being made to provide best quality seeds and fertilisers. Moreover, token tax on the purchase of tractors has been waived off,” he remarked. Pathania, who also holds the Power Department, said to ensure uninterrupted power supply, Rs 463 crore would be spent on expanding network of transmission lines. “A subsidy of Rs 270 crore has been provided to give relief to the consumers while Rs 49 crore will be spent on tackling low voltage problem in Shimla district,” he said. The minister stressed the need of improving road network and providing connectivity to every village. “Our government proposes to construct 475 km motorable road, 40 km jeepable road, 35 bridges and provide a road link to 80 villages,” he said. Pathania unfurled the national flag and took salute of the march past presented by the police, Home Guards and NCC contingents. He honoured Vishal Kumar, a resident of Jachana village in Chopal for exhibiting bravery and Devinder Dutt Sharma of the Fire Department for efficient services. Industrial package to be expanded
HAMIRPUR: Industries Minister Mukesh Agnihotri unfurled the national flag and took salute from the police contingents, Home Guards, NCC cadets and schoolchildren in a function organised to celebrate the 66th Himachal Day function here today. Addressing a gathering, the minister said a Rs 17 crore project, to set up a spice park at Nadaun, has been prepared by the state government and several panchayats would be linked to it which would improve their economy, besides creating job opportunities. He said the state government was making efforts to extend industrial package to the state till 2020 and has started a single-window system through which industrial projects were cleared within 90 days. The minister said the state government would soon start giving Rs 1,000 as unemployment allowance and also start skill development schemes to increase employment opportunities for unemployed youth. Talking about the government incentive to start new industrial projects, he said 4 per cent subsidy on interest on project up to Rs 50,000 would be given. Fish collection centre in offing
BILASPUR: A fisheries interpretation centre housing all varieties of fish and a fish collection centre will be set up in the town. This was stated by Forest and Fisheries Minister Thakur Singh Bharmouri during the district-level Himachal Day function here on Monday. He unfurled the Tricolour and took the salute by the police, Home Guards, NCC and scouts and guides. He said the state had set a new record of 205.44 metric tonnes of trout this year and the Gobindsagar had yielded 1212.73 metric tonnes of fish last year. He said trout fishing would be encouraged by sanctioning aid worth Rs 50 lakh for 100 new private units in the state this year. He said fishing provided self-employment to more than 10,000 families of weaker sections and the government was committed to ensure help to them. The minister pointed to the ever-increasing temperature in the state. He urged people to ensure that no one set fire in forests and to run to help in controlling fire if this happened as it destroyed wealth of the state. He said a monkey sterilisation centre and a monkey home would be set up in the district soon. He said there were more than 10,000 monkeys here of which only 2,100 had been sterilised. He said arrangements would be made to ensure that monkeys did not come out of premises of the monkey home. He invited suggestions from members of the public to tackle this serious problem. Earlier he paid homage at the Martyrs’ Memorial near the Circuit House. Ram Lal Thakur, Chairman of the Planning Development and 20-Point Programme Implementation Committee, MLA Bambar Thakur, Deputy Commissioner Ajay Sharma, Superintendent of Police Anupam Sharma, Vir Chakra awardee Roop Lal (Badoo) and former MLAs Babu Ram Gautam and Biru Ram Kishore were present. Solan-Delhi Volvo bus service soon
SOLAN: Transport, Food and Civil Supplies and Technical Education Minister GS Bali presided over the 66th Himachal Day district-level function at the Thodo ground in Solan here today. He unfurled the Tricolour and took salute of an impressive march past presented by the police contingents, Home Guards, NCC and NSS cadets. He said the hill state had become a model of development in the country and the government had taken various decisions to facilitate the people in its short stint of three-and-a-half months. This included provision of free bus travel to students of government schools. He said the social security pension had been enhanced from Rs 450 to Rs 500 per month whereas senior pensioners above 80 years would get Rs 1,000 per month and 20 per cent reservation for women would be ensured in the Police Department. He said a provision of Rs 175 crore for providing subsidy on essential commodities had been provided to facilitate the people. The minister announced that a Volvo bus service would be started soon between Solan and Delhi. Excise and Taxation Minister Prakash Chaudhary presided over the function at Chaugan ground in Nahan today. He said the state was founded due to the active efforts of the first Chief Minister Dr Yashwant Singh Parmar, who hails from the district. He said the state had emerged as a model state in the country and a budget of Rs 22,800 crore had been allocated to the state to achieve new milestones in the field of development. 2,000 hand pumps to be installed
MANDI: Irrigation and Public Health and Horticulture Minister Vidya Stokes said 2,000 new hand pumps would be installed and 25 habitations would get drinking water facility in water-deficient areas in the state this year. Addressing the Himachal Day celebration here today, Stokes said out of 53,201 habitations, the IPH was providing 70 litre of potable water daily in 44,254 habitations in the state. The minister said the state government had given 80 per cent subsidies on anti-hail nets to protect fruit crops. Stokes unfurled the Tricolor, took salute of the march past. She gave prizes to the Government Primary School, Mundru, Government Senior Secondary School, Lalag, and the Government Primary School, Mazharnu, for best performance in sanitation. She gave Rs 5,000 each to school troupes for performing at the cultural programme on the occasion. Sundarnagar MLA Sohan Lal, former minister Rangila Ram Rao, president Mandi Municipal Council, Mandi, Sushila Sonkhla, DC, Mandi, Devesh Kumar and SP, Mandi, RS Negi were also present. 55 panchayats to be linked by road
CHAMBA: HP Vidhan Sabha Speaker Brij Bihari Lal Butail said out of the total 283 panchayats in Chamba district, 228 had been connected by roads and endeavours of the state government were under way to connect the remaining 55 panchayats. This was stated by the Speaker while presiding over a district-level function organised to mark the Himachal Day in Chamba. The Speaker unfurled the national flag and took the salute at an impressive march past presented by the police, Home Guards and NCC cadets. Addressing the gathering on the occasion, Butail said the state government was committed towards the welfare of the weaker sections of the society. He said the government had enhanced the social security pension form Rs 450 to 500. He said free travelling facility was being provided to the mother and the newborn baby from hospital to the residence under the Janani Suraksha Yojana. He said the state government had also decided to recruit at least 20 per cent women at constable and sub-inspector level in the Police Department. He said 63,199 families had been provided employment under the Mahatma Gandhi Rashtriya Rogzar Guarantee Yojana by spending an amount of Rs 62 crore. CM’s announcements
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Heritage insensitivity irks panel
Shimla, April 15 The pulling down of a portion of Ripon Hospital, a building of the British era, is being resented by the committee and its member BS Malhans has sought the Chief Minister’s intervention to save the structure. “Please have the demolition stopped to prevent further damage to the precious heritage building. We will instead suggest ways to modernise the hospital,” he stated. He said construction of a modern reinforced cement concrete structure in place of the old building would prove disastrous. “Such insensitivity to precious heritage of the colonial era will make completely futile efforts to promote tourism during the last 30 years,” he said painfully. Belonging to the British era, Ripon Hospital, rechristened as Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Hospital, is on the list of heritage structures prepared by the Department of Town and Country Planning. “Vandalism on structures that are on the heritage list will render useless and redundant efforts to preserve and conserve structures of the British era that dot the city,” Malhans stressed. He urged the Chief Minister to direct the municipal corporation (MC) not to proceed with restoration plans of the Town Hall building till the Heritage Advisory Committee approved its as per norms laid down by the Archaeological Survey of India and the Indian National Trust for Art and Culture and Heritage. He pointed out that conservation work at the historic Barne’s Court, Governor’s official residence, should not be started till the committee granted its approval. He said the MC should not be granted permission to proceed with conservation work at the Raj Bhavan till the committee scrutinised the plan in detail. When contacted, Rajiv Sharma, Architect Planner with MC, said no proposal had been received as of now from the Health Department or the Public Works Department to pull down old buildings of Ripon Hospital. “We have told architects with the Tourism Department to submit plans for restoration of the Town Hall so that those could be placed before the committee before work was taken up,” he said. Slice of British era
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Rain heaps misery on orchardists
Kullu, April 15 Orchardists in the hailstorm-hit apple belt of Kotgarh-Thanedhar-Nawar valley in Shimla, Shirad-Kharal and upper Raison in Kullu and Seraj-Gohar-Janjheli-Seri in Mandi have yet to come to terms with losses. They are facing a fresh spell of rain. Multiplying their misery is that the fresh spell of rain has sent day temperature dipping below 15 degree Centigrade. Bloom is peaking in higher belt, but the drop in temperature has stopped bee activity, which has stopped pollination, says Dr Vijay Thakur, Associate Director, Fruit Research Centre, Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry. He says rain is like manure for fruit in lower altitude, but it it has washed pollen and stunted natural process that is detrimental to a good crop in high-altitude orchards, he adds. Bloom in upper Manali, Vashisht, Beasar, Jana and Jaban-Dalash in Kullu, Jhanjheli, Seri and Chindi in Mandi and higher belt in Shimla is peaking and likely to be hit by rain, fear farmers. The lower apple belt has good fruit, but bees have vanished from orchards in higher locations due to rain and low temperature, says Prem Sharma, president of the Kullu Apple Growers Association. |
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Hodson Run held at Lawrence School
Solan, April 15 Major Hodson was a young promising officer who was appointed secretary of the school during its nascent years. He was himself a keen long-distance runner whose name has been canonised in the school song of Sanawar. His parent regiment sustains Major Hodson’s legacy by sponsoring the cups and trophy for this race every year. The race was held amidst traditional fanfare and gaiety. It was a run under different age groups as it is mandatory for the entire school to take part in it. Lt Gen AK Bhalla, VSM, Colonel of the Fourth Horse Regiment (Hodson’s Horse) was the chief guest on the occasion. The General Officer, on behalf of the Hodson Officers Association (HOA) and the Hodson’s Horse British Officer’s Memorial Trust (HHBOMT), unveiled the bust of Major Hodson presented to the school by his regiment. He appreciated the zeal and sportsmanship displayed by the students of Sanawar. Headmaster Praveen Vasisht bestowed a token of appreciation to the chief guest and extended a vote of thanks. “The historical perspective of Sanawar and Hodson’s Horse is a saga of an enduring relationship,” he said. The winners of the event for under-11 years category were Angad Sanghera (Siwalik) and Pavit Sidhu (Siwalik), while in the under-12 years category Shaan Sidhu (Siwalik) and Manasvi Goyal (Himalaya) bagged the top honours. In the under-13 years category Rahil Nazir (Siwalik) won the top position and in the under-14 category Bimalika (Vindhya) and Vishavajit Singh (Nilagiri) were winners. In the under-16 years category Shivam Thakur (Himalaya) and Yukti Singh (Himalaya) won the event and in the opens category Asma Arora (Vindhya) bagged the top slot.
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HLP denies chances of merger with Congress
Kullu, April 15 The Chief Minister, who was here on a two-day long sojourn to preside over the Himachal Day function that concluded today, made a detour to the private residence of Kullu’s royal duo Maheshwar Singh and his brother Karan Singh, a legislator from
Banjar, for a late evening tea party yesterday. The visit has sent political rumour mill rolling on in the region that Maheshwar Singh might merge his Himachal Lokhit Party
(HLP) with the Congress ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. The Chief Minister’s visit assumed political significance because Maheshwar Singh had ruled out any possibility of his return to the BJP after he severed ties with former Chief Minister PK Dhumal at the fag-end of his tenure and founded his own party. Secondly, his brother Karan Singh, a key supporter of the Chief Minister, who is tipped a hot contender for the ministerial berth in the coming expansion of the Virbhadra government, revealed insiders. The Chief Minister had cold-shouldered Congress candidates Sundar
Thakur, who lost to Maheshwar Singh and Bhuvneshwar Gaur, who lost to Govind Thakur
(BJP) from Manali. Though both Sundar Thakur and Gaur were present at the function here, they were considered
anti-Virbhadra men in the Congress, revealed the insiders. But Maheshwar said it was due to a family relation that the Chief Minister visited his private residence. “But there is no question of merger of the HLP with the Congress as we will keep identity of the HLP intact,” he asserted, setting aside rumours in the district for the time being. He said the HLP was supporting the Congress. “I thank the Chief Minister for giving tehsil and tourist information centre at Bhuntar, Rs 35 lakh for the beautification of Dhalpur Maidan and a marketing yard in
Kullu,” he added. |
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HP wants ITBP to stay on at J&K border
Shimla, April 15 The issue was raised by Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Dhani Ram Shandil while speaking at a conference at the Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi today. “The border that the Chamba area shares with Jammu and Kashmir has been put on high alert as per intelligence inputs. As such, the move to withdraw the ITBP must be reconsidered, he said. Four companies of the ITBP from Chamba had been deployed in the border area to prevent infiltration of militants and maintain peace. He said law-enforcing agencies in the state needed to be better trained, equipped and financed to address the problem of drug trafficking, especially in the Kullu-Manali area. He requested the Centre to treat the state in category A like Jammu and Kashmir and the North-East for liberal financial funding under the Central-state contribution ratio of 90:10. For the new Modernisation of Police Force Scheme, the state had been put in the category wherein funding would be in a 60:40 ratio, he said. Shandil said Himachal Pradesh was the only state to depute women police personnel at all police stations and set up an all-women India Reserve Battalion as a step towards women empowerment. "An all-women quick response team has been deployed to provide crisis intervention and address cases of sexual assault against women," he stated. |
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Financial mess left by BJP cause of concern: Bali
Solan, April 15 He alleged that lack of farsightedness in failing to assess financial situation before taking decisions like granting 11,000 route permits had not only reduced profitability of the Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC), but enhanced its deficit to nearly Rs 100 crore as well. He said liability of a similar amount on account of provident fund and pension had become pending. He said the government would soon get plied 20 new Volvo buses of which 10 would be made available in two months. He said there would be no scarcity of buses for students of government schools who had been provided free bus service. He said 250 new routes would be introduced. He added that new schemes like own your own vehicle were being finalised which would help provide employment to the unemployed youth. He said the HRTC would soon buy 300 new buses. He said no permit for three-wheelers would be granted. He said there was a debt of Rs 122 crore on the Food and Civil Supplies Department due to reportedly erroneous policies of the BJP government. He said inviting global tenders for supply of subsidised items had led to a saving of Rs 23 crore and efforts were afoot to streamline supply. He warned depot holders of strict action if they failed to disburse items in time. He said an engineering college would be opened in Kangra district to equip the unemployed youth with technical education. |
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Five-day Navratri fair begins at Sundernagar
Sundernagar, April 15 The chief guest performed the puja of Dev Kamarunag’s (known as Bada
Deo), Dev Mahunag, the main deity of Sundernagar (old Suket estate), and other hill gods. Hundreds of hill gods have been brought here from various parts of old Suket estate for the Navratri fair. The deities of Dev Mahunag have been brought from the interiors of
Karsog, travelling a distance of about 100 km while Dev Badayogi was brought from the Tatapani area of
Karsog. The deities of Lord Shiva were also attending the fair after a gap of six years which was brought from
Mamel, an interior part of Mandi district. While addressing the gathering on the occasion, MLA Sohan lal said the government was committed to provide all facilities to the contingent accompanying the hill gods in order to promote cultural heritage of the state. Sundernagar
SDM-cum-chairman of the mela committee informed that around 150 hill gods had been invited and all the arrangements were made regarding their stay. |
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13 injured in Bilaspur road accidents
Bilaspur, April 15 Villagers rushed to the spot, broke open the locked windows of the car and took out all the injured trapped persons, first to nearby Gasaud PHC and then to the Regional Hospital here, from where driver Ranjeet Singh was rushed to the PGI, Chandigarh. All injured belonged to Dagdahan village near here and were returning after a Basaikhi bath at the Markandeya shrine. The other injured Bhag Singh, Jagat Singh and Nand Lal are said to be stable here in hospital. In another accident, nine persons were injured, some of them seriously, as their two vehicles struck each other at the Sargal Chowk near Barthin last evening. All injured were rushed to the Barthin Community Health Centre and are said to be recovering. The police has registered cases.
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In-laws blamed for woman’s death
Mandi, April 15 The police said Sumla Devi of Chaleli, Bilaspur, lodged a complaint at Sarkaghat police station and alleged that her daughter was forced to take poison by her husband and his parents. Meera was married to Vijay of Baldwara last year, but the family used to torture her seeking dowry, she alleged. She died at the Civil Hospital, Baldwara. The police has lodged an FIR under Sections 498-A and 306, IPC. |
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1 killed, 17 hurt in mishaps
Bilaspur, April 15 The injured were rushed to the Regional Hospital. The police has registered a case. The injured include driver Pawan Kumar of Behna Jattan village and eight passengers from Dharaadh Saani village near Rishikesh. All the injured are said to be stable. In another accident
last night near Gaaliyan village located 45 km from here, tractor driver Pawan Kumar (32) of Tungadi village was crushed under his
tractor after it turned turtle. Villagers rushed to the spot to discover that the driver was dead. The police registered a case. Tehsildar Daman Singh handed over Rs 10,000 as an immediate grant to the bereaved family. |
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Women for shifting of liquor vend
Nurpur, April 15 The manch submitted a memorandum to the local SDM and Assistant Excise Commissioner on Friday and warned them that they would lock the liquor vend if it was not shifted or closed. Block president, HRM, Manoj Sharma and president of the women wing, HRM, Babli Devi said the vend had become a nuisance in the rural area. |
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Lecture on Internet connectivity today
Kangra, April 15 Michael Ginguld, Director, Strategy and Operations Rural Broadband and CEO of Airjaldi Networks, will deliver the lecture at the seminar hall of the CUHP tomorrow. Mass Communication and Electronic Media head Pradeep Nair said Ginguld, a fellow from Harvard University, had more than a two-decade experience in the ICT, Community and Rural Development Projects in India, Indonesia, Cambodia, Nepal and Israel. He said Ginguld was currently associated with the rural broadband initiatives. |
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Man booked for thrashing woman
Nurpur, April 15 DSP Rajiv Atre said the accused allegedly stopped the woman near Tika Nagrota where she had come to fetch ration from a government fair price shop. The victim, in her complaint, stated that she was stopped by the accused when she was on her way back to the village. The accused threatened the woman with dire consequences. A case under Sections 323, 341, 354 and 506,
IPC, has been registered against the culprit and inquiry was started. |
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Villagers protest against cement factory
Bilaspur, April 15 Demonstrators raised slogans insisting that their agitation would continue till all their demands were met. They also urged local MLA Bambar Thakur and the district administration to get a solution to their problems. Addressing the rally, Amarjeet Singh, Action Committee chairman, said the factory was spreading pollution, seriously affecting their health and of their cattle. He said they were not being given service in the factory which was employing personnel from outside. |
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Woman booked for slapping constable
Hamirpur, April 15 When constable Sanjeev Kumar told her to move the vehicle, she allegedly slapped him, used derogatory language and threatened to get him shifted to Shimla. The police booked Renu under Sections 353, 332 and 189 of the IPC.
— TNS
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A five-day-long Navratri fair started here today. Local MLA Sohan Lal Thakur led a colourful procession on the opening ceremony of the fair which started from the PWD rest house and culminated at the community hall in Jawahar Park.
The chief guest performed the puja of Dev Kamarunag’s (known as Bada Deo), Dev
Mahunag, the main deity of Sundernagar (old Suket estate), and other hill gods.
