Steps urged to check apple disease
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Sept 2 — Mr Ram Lal, a former Chief Minister and prominent Congress leader, has expressed concern over the spread of dreaded disease causing premature defoliation of apple trees, and urged the state government to requisition the services of foreign experts to control the disease which posed a serious threat to the state's economy.

In a letter to Mr P.K. Dhumal, Chief Minister, he said the disease which was first detected in 1995, had affected a majority of orchards up to the height of 6,000 feet. Scientists at the Dr Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry and officers of the Horticulture Department had been trying to control the disease by trying out various fungicides, but these measures had not yielded the desired results.

The disease had over the past three years caused considerable damage to the crop and the growers had been hit hard.

The former Chief Minister suggested the setting up of a joint committee comprising scientists of the university and experts of the department to identify the areas affected by the disease in the state and suggested remedial measures. It should submit its report immediately so that some follow-up action could be taken.

He warned that in case immediate effective measures were not taken, the growers, who were already finding it difficult to maintain their orchards, would be doomed.

Tea plantation plan for Bhattiyat
From Our Correspondent

SINHUTA, Sept 2 — The Himachal Pradesh Government has decided to launch a tea cultivation project in Bhattiyat subdivision of Chamba district.

This was announced by the Industry Minister, Mr Kishori Lal, while inaugurating a district-level vanamahotsava at Garnota village in Bhattiyat subdivision yesterday.

He said that initially 600 hectares had been identified by experts for the cultivation of tea plants. He said the tea cultivation was a viable project for this area which would provide employment to about 3,000 residents of the subdivision.

The minister announced that the state government had launched "sanjha van yojna" at a cost of Rs 10 crore with the active participation of the people of respective areas. The yojna envisaged the planting of such species of saplings of broad leaves which could provide fuel and fodder and check soil erosion, the minister added.

The minister underlined the need of protecting and conserving the forest wealth and wildlife, which were inseparable parts of the cultural heritage. He said nature should not be disturbed at any cost.

The minister said the work was in process to harness 4000 MW of hydroelectric potential in the state.

The minister announced that Rs 7 crore had been earmarked for roads and bridges and buildings in Bhattiyat and Rs 90 lakh for a command area irrigation scheme for Bhattiyat for the current year.

The minister also announced the opening of a weaving centre at Garnota.

Minister seizes supply orders
From Our Correspondent

HAMIRPUR, Sept 2 — The Irrigation and Public Health Department Minister, Mr Ramesh Dhawala, last night ordered the seizure of the work and supply order record of Hamirpur Division pertaining to the supply of items made by the department for the years 1996-97, 1997-98 and 1998-99.

Mr Dhawala, who reached here late in the night, summoned the officers of the department to the Circuit House along with the record. He took the record in his custody.

It is pertinent to mention here that Mr Dhawala has started a campaign in his department to weed out corruption. He has so far seized the supply and work order records of at least 10 divisions of the Irrigation and Public Health Department.

Interestingly, Mr Dhawala was a contractor in the department before he became MLA. The contractor lobby is upset over the action taken by the minister and is likely to approach the Chief Minister.

Parashar to probe Kangra incident
From Our Correspondent

BILASPUR, Sept 2 — Himachal Congress president Sat Mahajan has appointed a high-powered committee headed by veteran Congress leader and former minister Prof N.C. Parashar to probe incidents connected with the alleged beating of leaders at a party meeting in Kangra district a few weeks ago.

Mr Sat Mahajan has said that the party high command has taken a serious view of the incident and strict action will be taken against any leader found responsible for the same. Other leaders who are members of the committee are state vice-presidents Milkhi Ram Goma and Kuldip Kumar. A report will be submitted within 15 days.

Pedestrian bridge inaugurated
From Our Correspondent

KULU, Sept 2 — A pedestrian bridge across the river Parvati in the Manikaran valley was inaugurated by the Deputy Commissioner, 35 km from here. The bridge has been constructed under the Malana Hydel Electricity Project with the help of the locals.

The Deputy Commissioner said the project would be completed by February 2001 at an approximate cost of Rs 375 crores.

The bridge would be of use to residents of Malana, the oldest democracy of the world, Chowki and to tourists visiting Malana. The bridge was built in a record time of one and a half months, he added.

IRB battalion HQ at Hamirpur
From Our Correspondent

HAMIRPUR, Sept 2 — The headquarters of the newly created second battalion of the IRB will be set up in this district, highly placed sources said here today.

They said the state government had instructed the deputy commissioner and the Hamirpur SP to find a suitable plot in the district to house the new battalion.

The DC and SP had inspected a number of places in the district and sent their report. However, there was no official confirmation about the venue of the battalion headquarters.

Sources said that the Union Home Minister, Mr L.K. Advani, had asked the Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, to immediately start recruitment work of jawans for the new battalion so that necessary funds be released. In all 1000 jawans would be recruited in the new battalion.