High prices may not benefit apple growers
SHIMLA, Aug 10 — Despite all-time high apple prices in Delhi and other terminal markets, growers are not likely to get remunerative returns from their orchards this season.

Decision on merger won't affect HVC
SHIMLA, Aug 10 — Mr Kishori Lal and Mr J.P. Nadda two senior BJP ministers yesterday asserted that the decision of the Speaker to uphold the merger of the two-member splinter group of the HVC into the BJP has not made any material difference in the party position within the house or the prevailing political situation in the state.

Trout-rearing unit attracts tourists
CHAMBA, Aug 10 — A trout-rearing unit at Bhandal in Salooni tehsil of Chamba district, about 80 km, from here, is attracting tourists.

Sonia liability for Cong : Shanta
KANGRA, Aug 10 — A former Chief Minister and BJP candidate from the Kangra Lok Sabha constituency, Mr Shanta Kumar, has described the Congress as "issueless and leader less" and said Ms Sonia Gandhi has become a liability for the party.

Luxury train fails to attract tourists
NURPUR, Aug 10 — Him Queen, a luxury train, which had been flagged off by the General Manager, Northern Railways, Ferozepore Division, on August 1, has failed to attract tourists in Kangra valley thanks to the publicity which was neither made by the railway authorities nor by the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Corporation.

NJPC staff call off strike
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Aug 10 — The 108-day-old strike by workers of the Nathpa-Jhakri Power Corporation (NJPC) was called off following the signing of an agreement between the workers and the management here today.

The management has withdrawn its notice for a lockout and has decided to re-employ the 348 workers who were retrenched on June 8.

The strike period will be treated as "no work— no pay".

Mr Ram Subhag Singh, Deputy Commissioner, who played a crucial role in bringing the management and the workers to the negotiating table, said that law would take its own course regarding the 138 other workers who were retrenched on May 19.

He said under the agreement 20 per cent financial benefits ranging between Rs 700 and Rs 2000 per month would be provided to each worker. Certain allowances had also been introduced for the workers.

He said productivity norms had been fixed for the workers.

Work on the project had come to a standstill at certain crucial points following the strike. Two workers lost their lives when the strike turned violent.

The Deputy Commissioner said the project management had agreed to drop 115 charge sheets against the workers. But those facing charges of murder would be suspended. The management had served 147 charge sheets during the period.

Former HVC man flays Sukh Ram
From Our Correspondent

MANDI, Aug 10 — Mr Desh Raj Sharma, former HVC spokesperson and once the right handman of HVC supremo Sukh Ram, today came down heavily on him alleging that he had betrayed the hopes of the unemployed youth.

Talking to mediapersons he accused him of only promoting his family interests neglecting the gigantic task of employment generation entrusted to him when he had to resign as a minister after being charge-sheeted in corruption cases.

When a correspondent asked him why he joined HVC in the light of the fact that while he was in the police service he had revolted against corruption, Mr Desh Raj explained that he earnestly believed that the CBI was treating him differently compared to several other politicians involved in bigger scams.

"I joined him when he was politically dead and he had pledged to devote the rest of his life for the welfare of the people", he said.

Mr Desh Raj lamented that Sukh Ram remained engaged in furthering his family interests ever since the BJP-HVC alliance government came to power. He said he was surprised to see how a colourful fountain in front of his son's hotel constructed allegedly at government expense. What was the worst, the age-old traffic system working well in the town even without the help of traffic policemen was distorted and vehicles were forced to drive to the right presumably to let tourists go straight to his son's hotel.

Cong: BJP groupism harming Kangra
Tribune News Service

DHARAMSALA, Aug 10 — The PCC chief, Mr Sat Mahajan, today accused the former Chief Minister, Mr Shanta Kumar, of focussing more on political manipulation than on development works in the Kangra area.

Talking to mediapersons here today, he alleged that both Mr Dhumal and Mr Shanta Kumar were more busy indulging in party groupism and pulling MLAs to their sides than concentrating on developmental works in the state. It was due to the factionalism in the BJP that Kangra was suffering, he further alleged.

Mr Mahajan, who is also the Congress candidate from the Kangra Lok Sabha seat, claimed that during his tenure as an MP, Mr Shanta Kumar had failed to fulfil the election promises he had made to the people. The proposed Apollo hospital at Holta in Palampur and a ropeway too had failed to materialise, he added.

Mr Mahajan, who was accompanied by the former Tourism Minister, Mr Vijai Singh Mankotia, a former Transport Minister, Mr Kewal Singh Pathania, and Mr Vikram Katoch, claimed that his party was fully united and whatever differences he had with Mr Kewal Singh had been sorted out. "It is for the first time in 30 years that I have sunk my political differences with Mr Kewal Singh, and have arrived at a compromise, which is not only for the coming Lok Sabha elections, but a life-long arrangement," he stated. He also stated that a former MLA and former Chairman of the Agro Industries Corporation, Mr Vikram Katoch, had been made his election in charge.

He said that today the BJP was resorting to the same method for raising a loan of Rs 275 crore for which it had criticised the Congress.

Mr Mahajan, alleged that the contract given to the Jai Prakash Industries for the execution of the Rs 2000 crore Chamera Phase-II project was a complete sellout. He said though the immense hydroelectric potential of the state must be tapped, at the same time, the government should ensure that maximum jobs were given to Himachali youths.

The main election issues of the Congress would be the demand for one rank, one pension, enhancement of the recruitment quota of Himachal in the armed forces, Scheduled Tribes status to the Gujjars and Gaddis and the setting up of more cement plants in the state.

High prices may not benefit apple growers
From Rakesh Lohumi
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Aug 10 — Despite all-time high apple prices in Delhi and other terminal markets, growers are not likely to get remunerative returns from their orchards this season.

Superior varieties are being sold at Rs 1000 per box in Delhi as compared to between Rs 350 and Rs 400 per box last year. Yesterday, some of these were sold at over Rs 1100 per box. However, growers are not in a position to take advantage of the price upswing as there is hardly any crop this year.

While lack of snow during winter deprived the plants of the much-needed chilling hours, the prolonged drought which followed upset flowering and fruit settings. The unusually hot weather during March and April caused heavy premature dropping of fruit. Consequently, the state which had a record output of over four lakh tonnes last year, is likely to record the lowest ever production this season.

Although harvesting is at its peak, 82 centres set up by the government to procure fruit under the market intervention scheme are deserted.

Hardly any grower has turned up as even the inferior quality is fetching good prices. Last year, the state procured a record 70,000 tonnes under the scheme. It is hardly surprising that there is no demand from growers for increasing the support price.

The export of apple from the state is also on a low key. Until yesterday, only 2 lakh boxes had been transported out of the state. Last year, over 22 lakh boxes had been exported by this time. Only 20 to 30 trucks carrying the fruit are rolling out of the state as compared to between 350 and 400 trucks last year.

The number may increase marginally over the next few days after harvesting in the mid-hill areas picks up, but the overall trend is likely to remain the same throughout the season, observes Mr Narinder Bragta, state Horticulture Minister. Against 2.16 crore boxes produced last year, the output is likely to come down to around 40 lakh boxes, he says.

A bumper crop is normally followed by a lean season, but this year unfavourable weather conditions coupled with mite and fungal attacks have made things worse.

An unusual feature has been that varieties like "golden" and "kali devi" have not been affected as much as commercial varieties like royal delicious. However, such varieties do not account for more than 5 per cent of plants in most orchards. The crop has been poor in Shimla, Kulu and other apple growing areas. The only exception has been the tribal Kinnaur district, where barring Nichar subdivision, the crop is normal.

The downfall in the production has pushed up the prices of other fruits. For instance, pear is fetching up to Rs 1500 per box in the Delhi market. But its production is insignificant as only a few growers have planted saplings of pear, because of its perishable nature.

The apprehension of the growers that unrestricted apple import following its inclusion in the OGL list will affect the sale of indigenous fruit has been found to be misplaced. The entry of imported apple has not made any adverse impact on the market at least this season. Over 7000 boxes of imported fruit have been sold over the past one month on an average price of Rs 1500 per box. Mr Chander Sen, vice-chairman of the HPMC, asserts that the imported fruit cannot compete with the local in price or quality. The local fruit is much better. So, growers need not have any fear on this count.

However, the growers feel that the real impact of the imported apple on the market will be known only next year. The import has just started and it will take some time to assess its impact.

ST exemption for Kulu shawls eyewash?
From Subhash Sharma

KULU: The economy of the people living high up in the mountains in the districts of Kulu, Lahaul and Spiti, Mandi, Kinnaur, Chamba and Kangra, mostly rests on the handloom sector, besides fruits and seed potatoes. Kulu and Kinnauri shawls have attained a special place in the country and abroad.

The handloom sector not only provides gainful employment to skilled weavers but also a livelihood to thousands of women and children, who make shawls by operations such as winding on cones and reels, drafting ( locally known as bharati) of combs and knotting of loose threads on ends of shawls and chaddars ('ganth jalli').

When the day's work is done in the fields or elsewhere, nearly everyone spends their spare time in spinning. Every house, practically, is involved in expanding the handloom sector. This has become a cottage industry.

The Himachal Pradesh Government had levied 4 per cent sales tax on woollen yarn in the early eighties. The government, after repeated requests by weavers, agreed to give 3 pc exemption in 1995, provided, the weavers fulfil certain prescribed norms.

Mrs Prem Lata Thakur, chief patron, the Himachal Handloom Handicraft Welfare Association, said the exemption proved to be eyewash as the notification issued by the then government carried so many stipulations which were impractical and beyond the capability of village folk. The conditions laid were cumbersome as the weavers were supposed to furnish form RM-1 of sales tax and RM-2 of the Department of Industries for which. They were supposed to be registered with both these departments. Whereas the government was well aware that the handloom products did not come under the Sales Tax Act in H.P.

Mr Anil Goel, president of the association, said sales tax on woollen yarn was 2 pc in Punjab. The exemption on sales tax in H.P would enable local weavers to compete with cheap Ludhiana shawls being passed off in the valley as "Kulu shawls." The incentive given to the local cottage industry would also check the inflow of such "Kulu shawls". The marketing of substandard shawls would also tarnish the reputation of the Kulu shawl. He said the government had to look after the interests of the poor weavers of the state and take measures to boost the economy of those earning in the shawl trade.

Indeed, Kulu is now a byword in the international vocabulary for woollen fabrics. And the emblazoning of Kulu & Kinnauri flowers on the shawls at the village has to be kept alive for ages.

Decision on merger won't affect HVC
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Aug 10 — Mr Kishori Lal and Mr J.P. Nadda two senior BJP ministers yesterday asserted that the decision of the Speaker to uphold the merger of the two-member splinter group of the HVC into the BJP has not made any material difference in the party position within the house or the prevailing political situation in the state.

Expressing surprise over reports that decision had come as a set back to the HVC, the ministers pointed out that the BJP-HVC combine had 38 legislators in a house of 68 members before the decision and it continues to be the same even now, Mr Mansa Ram and Mr Prakash Chaudhary, both ministers, were already members of the BJP and their status remained unchanged.

In fact it was the Opposition Congress which had suffered a set back as all its hopes of forming a government in the state had been dashed.

Mr Mansa Ram and Mr Prakash Chaudhary ridiculed the Congress for making baseless statements which reflected its frustration over the dismissal of its petition challenging the merger. They asserted that the decision of the Speaker was in order and no one should have any doubts about it.

Mr Mohinder Singh, a senior HVC minister, also retreated that all HVC legislators were solidly behind Mr P.K. Dhumal, the Chief Minister, and expressed confidence that under his leadership the combine would sweep the ensuing Lok Sabha polls.

Trout-rearing unit attracts tourists
From Our Correspondent

CHAMBA, Aug 10 — A trout-rearing unit at Bhandal in Salooni tehsil of Chamba district, about 80 km, from here, is attracting tourists.

Located on the right bank of the Siul rivulet, the unit was set up in 1979 and started functioning in 1984. There are two such units in Himachal Pradesh — one at Nagui in Kulu district and the other at Bhandal.

According to Mr P.C. Sharma, Sub-Inspector (Fisheries) and in charge of the unit, mirror carp fish is also reared in this fish-farm and training is imparted to the farmers of the area.

He said the beneficiaries were imparted training in rearing and hatching of trout. Some of them had started their own fish ponds on a commercial scale.

Sonia liability for Cong : Shanta
From Our Correspondent

KANGRA, Aug 10 — A former Chief Minister and BJP candidate from the Kangra Lok Sabha constituency, Mr Shanta Kumar, has described the Congress as "issueless and leader less" and said Ms Sonia Gandhi has become a liability for the party.

Addressing a press conference here yesterday, he said Mrs Sonia Gandhi was in a hurry to become the Prime Minister and had ousted the BJP government government from power by instigating Ms Jayalalitha.

He warned the Congress leadership to desist from making Kargil a poll issue stating that the sacrifices made by the martyrs should not be used to draw political mileage.

He said the National Democratic Alliance, led by Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, would get a full majority in the impending poll.

Luxury train fails to attract tourists
From Our Correspondent

NURPUR, Aug 10 — Him Queen, a luxury train, which had been flagged off by the General Manager, Northern Railways, Ferozepore Division, on August 1, has failed to attract tourists in Kangra valley thanks to the publicity which was neither made by the railway authorities nor by the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Corporation.

The train was especially launched for the tourists visiting Kangra. However, the train is driven by an old power engine. The train which covers about 128 km in over four-and-a-half hours, halts at Jwalamukhi and Kangra. It starts from Pathankot and has its final halt at Maranda (Palampur). The tourists would, however, be deprived of various key spots as the train has no other halts. It has four coaches with a seating capacity of 92.