HP packaging firm 'mismanaged'
SHIMLA, July 29 — The Himachal Pradesh Government has decided to take action on the Abhay Shukla report which pointed out serious financial and other irregularities in the State-owned Agro-Packaging India Limited.

Cycle expedition
enters Ladakh
SHIMLA, July 29 — The five local members of a cycle expedition today crossed the Baralacha Pass (4892 metres) and entered the Ladakh area of Jammu and Kashmir.

HP packaging firm 'mismanaged'
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, July 29 — The Himachal Pradesh Government has decided to take action on the Abhay Shukla report which pointed out serious financial and other irregularities in the State-owned Agro-Packaging India Limited.

Stating this during question hour, Mr Narinder Bragta, Minister for Horticulture, informed Mr Parveen Sharma that public undertaking, which was set up for manufacturing cartons to replace wooden apple boxes, had been a victim of gross mismanagement as a result of which it had accumulated losses to the tune of over Rs 34 crore, about Rs 4 crore more than the total investment made on it so far. The carton factory had an installed capacity to produce 1.50 crore cartons annually but it had actually produced only 1.08 crore cartons ever since it was commissioned in 1990. In fact the production crossed the 30 lakh mark only once.

That the factory was mismanaged was evident from the fact that finished goods and craft paper worth over Rs 72 lakh had been stocked and it paid a commission of Rs 14 lakh in its deal with the Jammu and Kashmir Government for the supply of five lakh cartons. He said it was a serious matter as commission was not paid in deals involving the two state governments.

He said the government had already ordered a special audit to pinpoint the irregularities so that further action could be taken. The audited report was expected within a month. The Managing Director of the corporation had already been replaced and steps were on to nurse the ailing unit back to health.

Mr J.P Nadda, Health Minister, told Mr Kaul Singh that at present 208 primary health centres, 109 dispensaries and 1014 health subcentres in the state were without government building. A sum of Rs 180 crore would be required for constructing buildings for these institutions. The government would make efforts to arrange funds for the purpose through some externally aided project.

Replaying to another question, he informed Mr Vipin Parmar that the previous government opened 116 health subcentres against the targeted 50, 68 primary health centres against 33 and five referral hospitals against the targeted three. Out of these, 21 subcentres and 10 primary health centres were opened in Shimla district.

Answering a question of Mr Harsh Mahajan, Mr Kishori Lal, Industries Minister, stated that nine mining lessees were not paying royalty fixed by the state government. They together owed Rs 5,73,078 to the government as royalty. He said show-cause notices had been issued to seven parties and in two cases, the process for recovering the dues as arrears of land revenue was on.

In a written reply, the Health Minister informed Mr Kaul Singh that at present blood banks were functioning in 10 out of the 12 districts in the state. Only Kinnaur and Lahaul-Spiti districts were without this facility. He said adequate technical manpower in blood bank procedures had been posted at District Hospital, Rekong Peo (Kinnaur), and machinery and equipment were being provided.

Panel to draft farm policy formed
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, July 29 — The Himachal government will set up a committee, comprising MLAs, officials and experts to prepare a comprehensive document to apprise the Centre of the specific needs of hilly areas so that these were adequately handled in the new national agricultural policy.

Replying to the debate raised by Mr Chander Sen on the issue, Mr P.K. Dhumal, Chief Minister, said that the hilly areas of Himalayan belt required special consideration as they also had the responsibility of preserving the green cover. He said the matter had been raised at an appropriate time when the Government of India was in the process of formulating a national policy on agriculture.

Initiating the debate Mr Chander Sen said while the efforts of Mr Satyananda Stokes, a progressive farmer, and late Mr Pratap Singh Kairon, who introduced apple cultivation in the state, revolutionised the hill economy, the present day farm scientists had failed to deliver the goods. They had not been able to introduce any suitable cash crops even though the agro-climatic conditions in the state were conducive for growing a wide variety of fruit crops.

He said forest cover in the hills could be saved only if the local people who were dependent on them were provided alternative means of livelihood. He said, so far, horticulture had not been given due attention at the central level as a result of which hill state like Himachal, had suffered.

Mrs Vidya Stokes, underlined the need for setting up "bud bank" so that disease-free high-yielding plant material could be made available to fruit growers. He said this could be best done by the National Horticulture Board. Mr Kaul Singh said the hill states which had lost their major source of revenue by imposing a ban on the felling of trees should be adequately compensated. This issue should be taken up with the Centre along with the agriculture policy. Mr J.B.L. Khachi, suggested that farm scientists and other experts should be involved in the preparation of document addressing the agricultural problems of hills.

The House also unanimously adopted a resolution urging the Centre to accord Gaddis and Gujjars of the areas merged into the state in 1966 the status of Scheduled Tribes.

Moving the resolution Mr P.K. Dhumal, Chief Minister, said the Gaddis and Gujjars of old Himachal areas had been included in the Scheduled Tribes and it would be appropriate that the members of these two communities living in merged areas were also accorded this status. However, Mr Dhumal said that including too many areas and communities would dilute the impact of resolution. The House had passed such resolutions in the past and these did not evoke a favourable response from the Centre for the same reason.

The original resolution was amended to exclude the areas and adopted with voice vote.

Cycle expedition enters Ladakh
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, July 29 — The five local members of a cycle expedition today crossed the Baralacha Pass (4892 metres) and entered the Ladakh area of Jammu and Kashmir.

These college students of the town had left for the expedition in the inhospitable trek on July 17.

Vikrant Singh Rana, a member of the expedition, said on telephone that their morale was high. They will cross six high passes during their expedition.

The boys will pass through the Tanglang Pass (5360 metres), Lachland-La (5062 metres) and the highest pass of Khardungla (5602 metres) during the expedition. While returning here, they will cross the Rohtang Pass (3980 metres).

Protesting students seek elections
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, July 29 — Members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad organised dharnas in colleges and on university campuses all over the state in protest against the failure of the university authorities to hold elections to the Students Central Association.

Mr Mohinder Dharmani, state organising secretary of the parishad, said the university and the government had conspired to deprive the students of their democratic right to elect their representatives since the past three academic sessions.

The parishad submitted a memorandum to the Vice-Chancellor demanding the holding of elections to the Students Central Association, declaration of re-evaluation results within 40 days and upgradation of the post-graduate section at Dharamsala to a full-fledged regional studies centre of the university.

The local unit of the NSUI also staged a dharna in front of the Vidhan Sabha to press the demand for holding elections of the SCA, grant of unemployment allowance and 25 per cent budget allocation for education. It threatened to launch an indefinite stir in August if the demands were not accepted.

Activists of the Students Federation of India gheraoed the Boileauganj police station to protest against the failure of the police to arrest the culprits involved in the attack on Pawan, a student, on July 25.

1.5 lakh pilgrims visit Chintpurni
From Our Correspondents

UNA, July 29 — More than 1.5 lakh pilgrims have visited the Chintpurni temple during the last four days, Mr Rajeev Shankar, Additional District Magistrate-cum-mela officer, Chintpurni, said yesterday.

The mela area had been divided into five sectors and 50 sweepers had been deployed to maintain cleanliness. He said the temple committee would provide milk to infants waiting with their parents in queue.

No vehicle would be allowed beyond Bharwain. Mr Rajeev Shankar said permits would be required for vehicles seeking to go beyond Bharwain. A medical officer and a sanitary inspector would inspect the meals of langars. Thousands of pilgrims from Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana, Chandigarh and Punjab were visiting the Chintpurni temple everyday.

An apology for ITI
From Our Correspondent

NURPUR, July 29 — On the demand of the local people former Himachal Chief Minister, Virbhadra Singh sanctioned an Industrial Training Institute (ITI) for Nurpur at a public meeting here on August 13, 1996.

Mr Ranjit Bakshi, the then MLA of the area, got the first session in the ITI started on October 28 last year.

The Department of Technical Education Himachal started the maiden batch of the ITI in a borrowed portion of the building of the Himachal Pradesh Agro Industries Corporation at Jachh, 4 km from here. The department had shifted electrician's trade here from the ITI of Shahpur in Kangra District, that too, with a borrowed skeleton staff. The then government announced to add four new trades of electronics, plumbing, air conditioning and refrigeration and desk top publication in the next session of 1998-99. But according to sources the Department of Technical Education has now reduced the number of trades announced by the previous government.

Only electronics and plumbing trades are being added in the coming session which disappointed aspirants for admission in the already announced trades in the new session being started in next month.

The previous government, had sanctioned 23 posts of all categories for this ITI but only four employees including an Instructor appointed on contract has been posted so far. Apart from this, the ITI lacks basic amenities. Classes and administrative block of the ITI function from a single hall which once had been a godown of the Agro Industries Corporation.

Now, the residents of the area have pinned hopes on the Prem Kumar Dhumal Government for providing a building infrastructure and basic amenities to the ITI. There is a demand to build its building on the suburbs of Nurpur town.

G.C. Pandey is new IIAS chief
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, July 29 — Professor G.C. Pandey, former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Jaipur, has been appointed chairman, governing body of the Indian Institute of Advanced Study, here. Prof Pandey will succeed Prof S. Gopal, who was the chairman for two terms.

Dr M.D. Srinivasan, Centre for Policy Studies, University of Madras, is the new vice-chairman of the governing body of the prestigious institute. The other members of the governing body are: Prof Goverdhan Mehta, Director, Indian Institute of Sciences Bangalore; Prof P.K. Ponnuswamy, University of Madras, Dr Kirit Joshi, former Special Secretary, Department of Education, Dr Voganand Kale, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Nagpur University, Dr Lakan Lal Mehrotra, ex-Foreign Secretary.

Besides, Education Secretary, Financial Adviser, Department of Education, Chairman of the UGC, Chairman of the ICSSR, Chairman of the ICPR, Director-General Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Chairman of the ICHR are ex-officio members of the governing body.

The Government of India has also reconstituted the society of the Indian Institute of Advanced Study on expiry of its term. Prof G.C. Pandey is the new president of the IIAS society. Dr Lakan Lal Mehrotra has been nominated vice-president of the society. All members of the governing body are also the member of the IIAS society.

Other members of the society include, Dr Raj Shekhar Jha, Vice-Chancellor, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam; Dr Snehlata Deshmukh, Vice-Chancellor, University of Bombay, Prof N.R. Shetty, Vice-Chancellor, Bangalore University, Dr M.M. Sharma, Vice-Chancellor, Dibrugarh University, Dr M.G. Borke, former Vice-Chancellor, University of Nagpur, Prof J.N. Bajaj, Centre for Policy Studies, Chennai; Prof S.R. Bhatt, University of Delhi; Dr M.M. Shaukdhan, University of Delhi; Dr R.S. Nigam, University of Delhi; Prof Uday Jain, Indore University, Prof Thima Reddy, Waltair University, Prof S.K. Gupta, Himachal Pradesh University; Prof Janak Pandey, G.B. Pant Institute, Allahabad, Prof Devender Deepal, Bhopal University, Prof O.M. Methew, University of Madras, Dr B.K. Joshi, former Vice-Chancellor, Kumaon University, Mr S.R. Pandhey, ex-Professor of Education, Allahabad, and Prof A.K. Narayan, former Professor at Winconson University.

Bio-diversity park opened
Tribune News Service

DHARAMSALA, July 29 — As part of the Himachal Vanamahotsava being organised by the Army a bio-diversity park has been set up in the cantonment.

The wife of the GOC, Major-General G.S. Negi, inaugurated the park, which is on the way to Mcleodganj. A number of activities like mass plantation of saplings, displaying of banners with themes relating to flora and fauna and painting competition were held during the week. Efforts were made to stress the need for preserving ecological balance, among the Army personnel as well as the locals.

As part of the Vanamahotsava, a herbal garden and deodar tree park have been set up at Yol Camp. The officiating GOC, Brig S.C. Pathak, said ecological cells had been created to focus on development of wastelands, setting up of nurseries, wildlife parks and non-conventional energy sources.

He said during the past year 2250 ornamental trees, 3570 commercial trees, and 1340 fruit-bearing trees had been planted in Yol camp.

Students demand SCA elections
From Our Correspondent

HAMIRPUR, July 29 — Resentment prevails among the student community over the failure of the HP University authorities to order holding of elections to the Students Central Association of the university and its allied colleges.

Leaders of various student organisations have urged the Chief Minister, Prof Prem Kumar Dhumal, to order the university authorities to hold the elections.

It may be mentioned here that the previous Congress government had banned the holding of elections in the state. This had led to resentment and frustration among students.