BJP has an edge in Baijnath
From Pratibha Chauhan
Tribune News Service

DHARAMSALA, Nov 23 — Electioneering came to an end in Baijnath today with the BJP having an edge over its rivals in a closely contested election.

The Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal, who campaigned extensively, got a good response during the dozen election meetings he held in the constituency. To dispel the notion that the BJP was a divided house and its coalition partner, the HVC, was not supporting party candidate, Dulo Ram, the Chief Minister held joint meetings with Shanta Kumar and HVC chief Sukh Ram.

The central belt of the Baijnath constituency consisting of Paprola, Baijnath, Averi, Khara Nal, Jhikli, Tikri and Majherna is the most thickly populated one and could prove to be the deciding factor. Senior leaders from the Congress and the BJP have been concentrating here.

The BJP is once again comfortably placed in the Chotta Bhangal tribal belt consisting of the Multhan, Bara Graon, Sward, Polling, Loai, Kothi Kod and Dharman panchayats. The Congress has a good hold in the lower belt of Chaubeen, Duhak, Krishna Nagar, Mahakal and Sansai, largely due to the door-to-door campaigning undertaken by the widow of Mr Sant Ram.

The BJP candidate, Mr Dulo Ram, has his Gaddi votebank of about 10,000 in tact. He has strengthened his position in the Utrala belt, his home area. However, some Rajputs are backing the Congress though they have been traditionally BJP supporters. Their number is over 5,000.

The Congress has benefited from the return of Mr Kishori Lal to the party. He has a good hold over Dalits and OBCs and had polled about 5,000 votes in the previous elections on the HVC ticket.

Some of the Rajput leaders, who have a hold in the area, like Mr Kuldeep Rana and Mr Lokinder Thakur, have been sincerely working for the Congress candidate. As a result, the Congress has been able to make a dent in the Sapedu, Gwal Tikkar, Rajehar, Nanehar and Nain areas which were earlier considered BJP strongholds.

Price hike has been the main poll plank. Though the impact of soaring prices in the upper belt has been little, people in other belts are feeling the pinch. Lately, the Congress has been accusing the Dhumal government of ignoring Kangra district at the cost of other districts.

The BJP, on the other hand, has the biggest advantage of being the party in power. It has once again made regional discrimination a major election issue. A large number of BJP workers from all over the state have descended upon Baijnath. They have been entrusted with important duties. This has annoyed local workers who feel that the state leadership does not have faith in their capabilities.

Mr Dulo Ram, who is contesting from here for the fifth time, may have to pay a heavy price for the large number of transfers in the constituency.

The Congress candidate, Mr Sudhir Sharma, has the benefit of being Mr Sant Ram's son who represented the constituency for very long. Old family links and humble bearing has helped him strike a chord with the voters, especially the elderly.

With campaigning coming to an end today, the candidates and other party leaders will now undertake door-to-door campaigning.

The district administration has made elaborate poll arrangements for the conduct of free and fair elections in the constituency on November 25.

According to the Deputy Commissioner, Mr B.K. Aggarwal, adequate armed police would be deployed at the "very sensitive" and "sensitive" polling stations. Additional police force would be stationed at Utrala, Beer, Dayol, Chowin and Fatehar to meet any eventuality. Three mobile police parties, under the DSP, would keep a vigil in the area.

Out of a total 81 polling stations, 35 have been declared "sensitive" and nine "very sensitive". Three sector magistrates and ten sectors officers will supervise the polling process.

All poll arrangements have been completed and a total of 350 polling personnel deployed. The counting of votes will be taken up on November 28.

BJP making "false" promises: Mahajan
Tribune News Service

DHARMSALA, Nov 23 — The Himachal PCC chief, Mr Sat Mahajan, has accused the BJP of making false promises, as it had failed to fulfil all that they had mentioned in the election manifesto.

Addressing a press conference, here today, he said that the BJP had lost its credibility, as it had failed to fulfil the promises made to people of Himachal, during last elections. "They had promised to provide subsidised ration and other food items and on the contrary the price hike in the country is unprecedented", he said. He added that instead of giving jobs to the educated youth the BJP government resorted to retrenchment of 35,000 workers and victimisation of employees, by ordering large scale transfers.

Mr Mahajan, regretted that the present government was ignoring interests of Kangra district and shabby treatment was being meted out to the people of the area. "I am for a balanced development of the entire state, but how can I turn a blind eye to the discrimination being meted out to the people of Kangra," he stated. He also objected to the shifting of the winter capital from Dharmsala to Shimla and the failure of the government to pursue the Tanda Medical College issue.

The PCC chief, said that the BJP had no respect for women as after declaring Ms Indu Goswami, as the unofficial candidate, she was denied the party ticket. "Crime against women is on the rise, and the government has failed to take strict action against those responsible for the burning alive of a woman and a young girl in the Jwalamukhi area," he said.

Mr Mahajan, said that there was a scarcity of seed and fertiliser and despite having made advance payments, the farmers were not getting it. He said that no development work had been undertaken in the Baijnath area by the present government. The demand for granting of tribal status to the Gaddis of the lower areas and one rank — one pension, had not been pursued by the BJP government in the state.

The PCC chief condemned the alleged misbehaviour by some police personnel with Congress legislator, G.S. Bali, and said that an administration, which cannot show respect to the elected representatives, is "sick". He added that this was an insult not only to the legislators but also to the Congress party.

Sandalwood plants in Himachal
From Romesh Dutt

SOLAN: Scientists of Parmar University and Horticulture, and Forestry at Nauni, near here, have successfully developed nursery and plantation technologies for large-scale establishment of 'sandal' or 'chandan', in the lower areas of the Himalayas.

Dr V.K. Mishra, Professor and Head, Department of Silviculture and Agroforestry of the university, says that contrary to the popular belief that sandal was the exclusive preserve of the southern states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala, sandal trees had been recorded growing in the Jawalaji area of Kangra district in 1959-60 and in Bilaspur around 1983.

In view of the economic importance of the sandalwood, whose oil is highly prized in the perfumery and soap manufacturing industry and is considered the second most preferred material after ivory, by craftsmen engaged in the trade of decorative sculpture, the department prepared a plan for starting a project for adapting the sandal trees on a commercial scale in Himachal Pradesh.

This plan was subsequently approved by the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Training, Dehradun, which provided suitable funds under a World Bank scheme in 1995.

Studies conducted by Dr K.S. Verma, who was appointed the Principal Investigator of the project revealed that sandal trees growing in Jawalaji and Bilaspur areas formed the heartwood from which the much sought after sandal oil was extracted.

The essential oil content of an average sample of Himachal grown heartwood was of the order of 3.5 per cent. This compared favourably with corresponding figures of the heartwood produced in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala where the oil content ranged between 2.5 and 6.2 per cent.

Dr Verma says even though natural regeneration of sandal was quite profuse, it could not spared outside its limited habitat in Jawalaji and Bilaspur due to a variety of reasons. He listed them as "heavy biotic pressure, particularly grazing, browsing and trampling of young trees by cattle, lack of nursery and field plantation technologies, poor and slow rate of seed germination under Himalayan conditions, lack of knowledge about suitable secondary host (young sandal trees grow as parasites) and lack of proper appreciation of its economic potential."

Dr Verma says that he and his colleagues have solved the problem of seed germination and nursery raising.

It has been found that the land area of the lower belts of Himachal Pradesh in the districts of Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Una, Kangra, Mandi, Sirmour, Solan and Chamba where "khair", "shisham" and lantana bushes grown in abundance have a good potential of raising sandal plantations. All these species could be used as secondary hosts to sandal plants. However, sandal trees had been noticed doing very well with 'arhar' plants playing hosts to them.

The university department proposed to start large-scale sandal nursery raising between May and July, 1999, for the purpose of demonstration to prospective growers.

Dr Mishra narrates an interesting story. According to him one Major Sohan Lal Sud brought some sandalwood seeds to his home in Bohan village, near Jwalaji in Kangra district from Bangalore after his retirement from the Army in 1945. He planted a couple of seeds in his own fields and scattered the remaining in the forest areas adjacent to his village and forgot all about it for the next about 15 years.

A chance sitting of sandal trees growing in his own backyard in 1959 brought memories of his having brought their seeds from Bangalore. He informed state Forest Department officials about the successful growing of sandal at Jawalaji. He also instructed his family members to use sandal for his cremation.

However, the excitement of the discovery quickly wore off under pressure of the daily grind of earning one's livelihood and soon every body forgot about it. It was only when the Major died that somebody remembered his wish and cut a sandal tree for cremation.

Later, an enterprising Forest Officer of the state brought sandal seeds from Jwalaji to Bilaspur, where about 2000 trees were reported to be doing well presently. This forester also recorded his findings in an official document showing 1959-60 as the year of sandal occurrence in the state. Another official document put the area under sandal in Bilaspur at four hectares in 1983.

Dhumal promises tribal development
From Our Correspondent

PALAMPUR, Nov 23 — Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister, Himachal Pradesh, said here today that his government would give top priority for the development of tribal areas of the state. Addressing a news conference here this morning, Mr Dhumal said the Baijnath Holi-Chamba road would be completed in the next five years. He said with completion of this road the distance between Baijnath and Chamba would be reduced by 200 km. He said at present the distance between Chamba and Baijnath is 314 kilometres. In reply to a question he said no one would be allowed to divert the tribal funds for non-tribal areas.

He alleged that the Congress was misleading the state by quoting wrong figures of funds spent on the development works.

Mr Dhumal clarified that his government was also committed to setting up the Vivekanand Medical College and Research Hospital at Palampur. He said the opening of this college was part of the BJP manifesto. Though the college would be established by a private trust but the government would extend all possible help including financial assistance. He disclosed that the trust 60 acre had already been transferred in the name of the trust by the state government had Rs 2.87 crore in a bank. He said former Chief Minister Shanta Kumar had been made in charge of this project. He said a meeting was likely to be held with Mr Pratap Reddy, Director said of the Apolo group of hospitals who would run this college and hospital in Palampur.

CPM rejects TRAI move to hike phone tariff
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Nov 23 — The state committee of the CPM has rejected the proposal of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India to change telephone tariff structure which, it observed would hurt the users the most.

Expressing concern over the move of the authority the party pointed out that the tariff and rentals proposed were in complete negation of the national telecom policy adopted by Parliament. While the main objective of the policy was to ensure speedy expansion of telecom network to make various services available in rural areas, the proposed tariff structure would put the services out of reach of not only the rural people but also a large section of urban middle class.

If the proposals were implemented the monthly charges for rural users would go up by 140 to 300 per cent and for urban users by 52 to 72 per cent. In contrast the users would get a relief of 75 to 94 per cent.

It alleged that the TRAI had not adopted proper methodology. It appeared to have concentrated only on consulting the private operators, made no attempt to interact with experts and public interest groups. It is no secret that private operators had been lobbying hard for increasing local call charges.

The government not only failed to give a policy directive in the matter but it also made no attempt to protect the interest of subscribers. It underlined the fact that a regulatory authority which was not accountable to the people, could not frame policies, only Parliament had this authority.

Suspended for not razing "illegal" building
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Nov 23 — An officer of the Town and Country Planning Department was today suspended as he did not demolish an "illegally constructed" building of a Congress activist at Parwanoo.

The suspension of Mr Sandeep Sharma, Town and Country Planning officer of the Solan district, was ordered this evening.

It is learnt that Mr Sharma armed with the demolition orders reached the building site in the early hours on Saturday. He was accompanied by a strong police force and labourers provided by the district authorities for the demolition.

However, the Congress activist produced a "stay order" of a court and challenged the demolition. Mr Sharma visited the premises twice and finally decided not to demolish the building. This apparently irked the high-ups.

While the authorities allege that the building was illegally constructed and also in violation of Section 118 of the H.P. Land and Tenancy Act, Mr Bawa, a transporter and Congress activist, when contacted on telephone at Parwanoo, claimed that all this was being done to harass one of the party supporters.

He claimed that the owner had obtained a stay order in respect of any action for the violation of Section 118 and such the authorities were not competent to demolish the building. He also claimed that papers had been submitted for the regularisation of the building.

He said that the building was constructed in 1995 and the department swung into action now only after the BJP government came to power.

The authorities alleged that the building was constructed on an industrial plot.

Crop insurance for Rabi to continue
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Nov 23 — Comprehensive crop insurance scheme will continue during the current Rabi season for the wheat crop in Himachal Pradesh.

A spokesman of the Agriculture Department said today that the maximum limit of the total sum insured will continue to be Rs 10,000 per farmer irrespective of the quantum of the crop loan, and the total sum insured would also be limited to 100 per cent of the crop loan disbursed. All other provisions of the scheme remain the same as in the previous seasons.

The existing comprehensive crop insurance scheme will be implemented in the revised 58 units including Kinnaur district.

The spokesman said that the rate of premium would be at the rate of 2 per cent and in respect of small and marginal farmers the premium would be subsidised to the extent of 50 per cent consisting of 25 per cent central share and 25 per cent state share. All crop loans to be distributed by the commercial banks, cooperative credit institutions and the Regional Rural Bank of Himachal Pradesh for raising production of wheat crop in the state in selected units is to be insured to the extent of 100 per cent on compulsory basis.

He said that the indemnity claims would be shared between the state and central governments. The level of indemnity (threshold yield) for the crop would continue to be 80 per cent.

Left bodies’ rally decries liberalisation
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Nov 23 — The district committee of the National Platform of Mass Organisation here today held a rally in protest against the policy of liberalisation.

The protesters went round the main bazaar and later held a rally at which the speakers representing various Left organisations criticised the policies of the BJP-led government at the Centre and in the state. They alleged that national assets and interests were being sold away to foreigners on the dictates of the World Trade Organisation consequently, the country was facing major problems on the industrial and agricultural front leading to mass retrenchment of workers, price rise and unemployment.

Above all the government was pursuing the agenda to propagate Hindutva by saffronising the entire education.

The rally supported the "rasta roko" call for November 25 given by the students wing of the party to press various demands pertaining to colleges and university.

Docs take mass leave
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Nov 23 — Working in Indira Gandhi Medical College and the Dental College here was paralysed as resident doctors proceeded on mass casual leave today.

The resident doctors are protesting against denial of new pay scales to them.

All OPDs remained closed due to absence of the resident doctors. All operations were postponed.