Congress ultimatum on power tariff hike
MANDI, Jan 31 — Former Speaker and State Congress General Secretary Thakur Kaul Singh today warned the state government that if it did not withdraw the recent increase in power tariff by February 28, the Congress would launch a statewide agitation on March 1.

Educate women for progress: Rama Devi
NURPUR, Jan 31 — Ms V.S. Rama Devi, Governor of Himachal Pradesh, has underlined the need for equal opportunities for the women to ensure their active participation in the process of national reconstruction.

• Implement new pay scales: teachers
• Avalanche warning in Pangi valley
• Traders resent shifting of bus stand
• Khalsa celebrations in HP sought
• 7 hurt as jeep falls into gorge

Congress ultimatum on power tariff hike
From Our Correspondent

MANDI, Jan 31 — Former Speaker and State Congress General Secretary Thakur Kaul Singh today warned the state government that if it did not withdraw the recent increase in power tariff by February 28, the Congress would launch a statewide agitation on March 1.

Addressing newspersons, he said by enhancing the power tariff the Dhumal Government had burdened domestic consumers with an additional amount of Rs 58 crore annually. The Congress will fight against this backdoor "mischief" perpetrated on the people bypassing even the Vidhan Sabha, he said.

He reminded that similar "anti-people acts of the previous BJP Government had sealed its fate, adding that Mr Dhumal seemed to have learnt no lessen from the "blunders" of the past.

He regretted that when the Congress reacted to the secret increase in power rates, Mr Dhumal had dared the party to start an agitation. "We have accepted his challenge and a vigorous agitation will be launched on March 1", Mr Thakur said.

Himachal was emerging as a power state and "we should give cheap power to all sections of consumers of the state. Comparison of power rates in other states, therefore, did not make any sense, he asserted. He called upon the HPSEB to set its house in order by plugging power thefts which had assumed alarming proportions. It was an open secret that large scale power theft was taking place in connivance with HPSEB personnel.

The former Speaker accused the BJP Government of inefficiency and non-governance which had exposed the BJP in the state and at the centre to "public ridicule". The party here was divided between followers of Mr Shanta Kumar and Prof P.K. Dhumal. Hardcore communal elements in the BJP had joined hands against Mr Vajpayee. The resignation of Mr Khurana had come as a climax to the turmoil within the BJP. The sword of threats by the alliance partners was constantly hanging on Mr Vajpayee's head.

From the sequence of events at the Centre, one could predict the collapse of the BJP Government any time. In Himachal where the BJP-HVC combine had a hair-line majority the government would fall under its own weight. He alleged that health and educational institutions in the state in general and Mandi district in particular had come to a virtual closure for want of staff. The zonal hospital here was in a bad shape. Against 50 sanctioned posts of doctor only 30 were there. The 100-bed Sarkaghat civil hospital had only three doctors against 17 sanctioned posts. At the Padhar health centre only two doctors were there against seven posts. The Katuala health centre was without any doctor.

Educate women for progress: Rama Devi
From Our Correspondent

NURPUR, Jan 31 — Ms V.S. Rama Devi, Governor of Himachal Pradesh, has underlined the need for equal opportunities for the women to ensure their active participation in the process of national reconstruction. She was presiding over the inaugural ceremony of the new campus of the local Arya Girls College built at a cost of Rs 30 lakh, here today.

She said the cherished goals of progress, prosperity and better living standards could be achieved only if the women joined the march for development. While laying stress on the education of women, the Governor said it was the key to attain a healthy society.

She said free education was being provided to girls belonging to the poor sections of society. She pointed out that most of the senior secondary schools in the state were being opened for imparting education to the girls. She urged the people to send their girls to these schools and also ensure that women were given due respect, dignity and equality in the family and society.

Lauding the role of the Arya Samaj movement in disseminating education, she said these institutions while providing modern education had been incorporating the ethics and values of our culture. She said the students should uphold these values. She stressed the need for more involvement of voluntary organisations and private institutions in the field of education.

Mr Sat Mahajan, ex-MP and the chief patron of the college, welcomed the Governor. He urged the Governor to suggest to the state government to take over this college for better education facilities.

The Governor, also gave away the prizes to meritorious students. A colourful cultural programme was presented by the students.

Mr Chander Kumar, Mr Sujan Singh Pathania, former ministers and Mr Thakur Singh Bharmouri, ex-MLA, were also present.

Changer project-II to start in April
Tribune News Service

DHARAMSALA, Jan 31 — The second stage of the Indo-German Changer project would be launched from April to cover 40 panchayats left out in the first stage.

This was stated by the Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal, while addressing a public meeting at Hardera village, near Palampur, yesterday. The second stage of the project would cover 40 panchayats falling in the Palampur, Baijnath and Jaisinghpur areas, for which a sum of Rs 30 crore would be spent. The German Government will spend a sum of Rs 20 crore on it while the rest would be spent by the Himachal Government. The project would be completed in five years.

Mr Dhumal said the Indo German project was started in 1993. Under this project 107 panchayats of the changer area were selected for undertaking afforestation and other related activities. A sum of Rs 22 crore had been spent under the stage one, covering 67 panchayats. Mr Dhumal also inaugurated the Ayurvedic Dispensary building, constructed at a cost of Rs 17 lakh.

The Chief Minister said his government was committed towards undertaking uniform and speedy development of the state. "The recognition to Tanda Medical College has already been granted. The Apollo project would also be approved soon.

Mr Dhumal announced a grant of Rs 2 lakh for the construction of a veterinary dispensary at Rodda, and upgradation of the high school at Gharana to the senior secondary level. The former Chief Minister and MP, Mr Shanta Kumar, a number of senior ministers and MLAs were present on the occasion.

HP to construct 13,612 classrooms

SHIMLA, Jan 31 (PTI) — The Himachal Pradesh Government has launched an ambitious programme to construct 13,612 school rooms at a cost of Rs 136 crore to provide at least three rooms in each primary school by March 2002, Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal announced at Thural in Kangra district today.

Addressing a meeting after laying the foundation stone of a 166 mts span bridge over the Neogal khud at Thural, the Chief Minister said that the Government was taking various steps to bring qualitative improvement in the primary education by strengthening the infrastructure, staff structure and training.

He said the state had almost achieved that target of 100 per cent enrolment at the primary level and the thrust had now shifted to qualitative improvement.

Reiterating his resolve to ensure a balanced and uniform development of the entire state, the Chief Minister said that the Government would ensure setting of fruit processing plant in every sub-division in the lower areas to enable the fruit growers of these areas to get remunerative prices.

He said the government would provide all possible incentives, including allotment of land on lease, tax holiday for five years and other benefits applicable to new units.

The Chief Minister also announced the creation of a new sub-tehsil at Thural and upgradation of the high school.

Former Chief Minister Shanta Kumar also announced a grant of Rs 2 lakh for the construction of additional rooms in high school, Thural, and Rs 1.50 lakh for the construction of three rooms in Balara Middle School from the MP's Local Area Development Funds.

Serving the troops with milk & butter
Tribune News Service

THE Corps of Military Farms is celebrating its 110th Corps Day on February 1, 99. This corps is playing a commendable role in the supply of milk and milk products to defence personnel and fodder to the animals during peace and war. With a strength of about 24,000 animals, military farms supply nearly 600 lakh litres of milk and 3,50,000 kg of butter to the troops annually. Apart from serving the troops, the defence animals, especially located at high altitude and in operational areas, are also getting 30,000 MT of hay (dry fodder) yearly from military farms. Not only this the military farms are also expanding their activities towards afforestation, vermiculture, goat and poultry farming. In the field of research on animal husbandry, the military farm is the oldest organisation with the unique distinction of being the pioneer in cattle cross-breeding work in India, since 1907.

The history of military farms is traceable as far back as 1889 when a military dairy was established at Allahabad, followed by many more military farms at Mhow, Kota, Ferozepore, Kirkee, Belgaum, Bangalore, Jalandhar, Wellington and in almost all other cantonment for milk supply to troops and military hospitals.

India possesses nearly one third of the world’s cattle population but the production per head is very low. Indian cattle milk production is only 987 kg per lactation as compared to 5462 kg in UK and 4451 kg in Australia. However the efforts of military farms in the field of cattle cross-breeding for the last nearly 8 decades has established that Frisian bull crossed with Sahiwal cow produces the best of cross-bred progenies of cows. Today it is this finding, based on military farms research work, that has become our national policy of upgrading desi cows.

The research conducted by military farm personnel at Field Research Laboratory at Leh, situated at altitude of 11,800 ft has revolutionised production of milk and vegetables in Ladakh district of J&K. It has resulted in standardising nearly 43 varieties of grain crops, vegetables, oil seeds and fodder crops which can be grown successfully in that cold desert.

Military farms are further diversifying their activities by opening goat farms at Secunderabad and Missamari and also poultry farms at Karu, Tanga, Dimapur and Misamari for meeting the requirements of meat, fowls and eggs, of the troops. For serving the officers and jawans in remotest and forward milk scarcity areas, milk production units have been established at Port Blair (Andaman and Nicobar), Karu, Sumdu, Pooh, Karcham (Himachal Pradesh), Naushehra, Panni Tola, Tenga, Dimapur, Jorhat, Missamari, Ratighat and Darchula. During the outbreak of hostilities in the past, this organisation has done commendable job by supplying fresh milk to the troops located at forward posts of operations thereby boosting their fighting spirits. In the northern sector when Akhnoor Bridge was washed away by the floods. Military farm, Jammu, did a commendable work by maintaining the supply of fresh milk.

The role of military farms has been highly commended from time to time. At present the team of military farm officers is led by Brig VP Singh, Deputy Director General, Military Farms, whose main objective is to provide fresh milk to every officer and jawan at the forward post, may be located at Siachen Glacier or other operational areas. Highly professional officers like Lt Col SS Randhawa and Maj KL Jadhav, who got Ph.D degree, at their credit, proved an asset to the organisation of running military farms efficiently. Three military farm officers have been awarded with VSM and many others have been honoured with Commendation Cards.

On this auspicious day, Lt-Gen HB Kala, GOC-in-C Western Command, Lt-Gen MS Bhullar, Colonel Commandant, Military Farms, and Brig VP Singh, DDGMF, have sent their greetings and good wishes to all the military farm officers, staff and their families.

New tourist destination

SHIMLA, Jan 31 (UNI) — The Himachal Pradesh Government has initiated various measures to develop the Pong Dam lake, now named Maharana Pratap Sarovar, into a major tourist destination in Kangra district.

A regional water sports centre has been created at the lake site to encourage water sports activities. It offers various courses for such adventure sports as canoeing, kayaking, water skiing, surfing, rowing and motor boat racing.

The sports centre will have an aquarium where fish of various species available in the state will be on display. Special cultural programmes like folk dances of the state will be organised on the pattern of Goa tourism. A tourist complex is also proposed to be set up.

The lake, located on the border of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh, is about 5 km wide and 30 km long. Certain enchanting places like Jawalamukhi, Chintpurni and Kangra fall in the 60-70 km belt around the lake.

About 200 species of migratory birds from Siberia and China are seen hopping around and diving into the lake. To have a better look of these winged visitors, a bird watching site will be developed.

The embankments of the lake are rich in flora and fauna and one can spot nilgai, sambar, barking deer, wild bear, jackals and leopards in the sanctuary that sprawl in the Shivalik foothills. The Shivalik’s flora is interspersed with medicinal plants and herbs.

According to an official spokesman, the state government has decided to set up a handicrafts emporium which will have like Kulu caps and shawls, Chamba chappals and handkerchiefs, Kinnauri shawls and jewellery and Kangra paintings.

With the state government’s resolve to develop and give adventure tourism an impetus, the Maharana Pratap Sarovar is set to become a major tourist destination.

INTUC flays govt for price hike
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Jan 31 — Ms Kanta Sud, chairperson of the Central Women Workers Committee of the Indian National Trade Union Congress, has criticised the Centre's decision to increase the prices of essential commodities supplied through the public distribution system and warned the government that women would launch a country-wide stir if the hike was not withdrawn.

In a statement here today, she said the increase would hurt the working class the most. With this hike even a daily wage of Rs 100 would not be enough for workers to make both ends meet, whereas in Himachal they were getting just Rs 51, she said.

The government had also overlooked the interests of the farmers by increasing the prices of fertiliser. Instead of checking wasteful expenditure, the government was levying taxes on the people on one pretext or the other.

Ms Sud said, the decision had also exposed the real face of the BJP which had been claiming all along that it was pursuing pro-worker policies.

Home for migratory birds
From Bijender Sharma

JAWALAMUKHI: Nestled in the sylvan surroundings of the Kangra valley in Himachal Pradesh, the Pong Dam wet land has emerged as a major habitat for migratory birds.

Some 15,000 to 20,000 birds belonging to as many as 54 species visit Pong Dam Lake every year. This water reservoir was created in 1960 along with the construction of the dam. It is the only place in India, after Bharatpur Sanctuary, where the rare red-necked crane has been sighted.

The state government has renamed the Pong Dam reservoir in honour of the great hero, Maharana Pratap (1572-97).

The man-made reservoir of the dam is 42 km in length and 2 km in width on the Beas.

The wet land also supports other kinds of wildlife, including the barking deer, wild bear, sambar, foxes and a variety of reptiles. The lake attracts thousands of birds annually.

Prior to the construction of dam, the number of species found in the area was less. However, the bird diversity in the region was noted by a British police officer as early as in 1920 when he put the number of birds species in the vicinity at 27. The information left by him finally led to the marking of the region as a protected area.

The water body occupies an area of at least 18,000 hectares and expands up to 30,000 hectares at the time of maximum flooding — an area of roughly 20,000 hectares with a radius of 5 km. The lake contains one major permanent island and several others which are intermittently connected to the shore. The surroundings hillsides support some deciduous and pine forests in which migratory birds can be seen sitting on trees.

An 1985 survey recorded about 10,000 ducks near the southern shore of the lake and several thousands others near the Gej Khad mouth of the reservoir. Under the Social Forestry Programme of the government, a large number of the eucalyptus trees have been grown in the area. Wildlife experts have made a number of proposals for the development of this into a world sanctuary.

These include the creation of a permanent shallow water area where reed beds and other perennial, aquation vegetation will be developed to attract additional bird species and the planting of trees on the main island for the nestling sites.

Snow in HP

SHIMLA, Jan 31 (UNI) — Higher reaches in Himachal Pradesh experienced another spell of snowfall last night aggravating the cold wave in the region.

Icy winds swept the capital town of Shimla and its adjoining areas. The town was enveloped in a fog by the evening after a bright sunny morning. Water pipes froze in certain areas which were still covered with snow.

Upper areas of Shimla district, including tourist places, reeled under severe cold wave.

High altitude areas in tribal districts of Lahaul Spiti and Kinnaur and the Pangi and Bharmour areas in Chamba district had fresh snowfall and the temperature hovered around —15°C in these areas. The Rohtang Pass and the Dhauladhar mountain ranges also had snowfall.

Follow Gandhiji's path, says Rama Devi

SHIMLA, Jan 31 (UNI) — Himachal Pradesh Governor, Ms V. S. Rama Devi today exhorted people to emulate teachings of Mahatma Gandhi and follow the path of peace, love, harmony and compassion shown by him.

Addressing a gathering of freedom fighters and other local people at Shri Gandhi Sewa Ashram, Oel, 35 km from here, she said that the message of love, brotherhood and communal harmony given by Mahatma Gandhi was relevant even today.

She said Gandhiji always stressed the importance and dignity of physical labour which was the key to the overall development of the country and society.

She added that he gave much importance to village and cottage industries and viewed them as important tools against industrial monopoly, poverty and unemployment.

The Governor said more attention should be paid to the development of such cottage industries for building self-dependent economy, besides traditional handicrafts and rural occupation.

She asked the youth to take to self-employment ventures rather than running for white collar jobs.

Ms Rama Devi exhorted people to resolve and dedicate themselves for strengthening the spirit of communal harmony and respect for all religions, which would strengthen national integrity. She stressed the need to imbibe the spirit of patriotism and social service among the younger generation.

Traders resent shifting of bus stand
From Our Correspondent

NADAUN (Hamirpur), Jan 31 — There is a strong resentment among people of this town over the reported move of the local BJP MLA, Mr Babu Ram Mandyal to shift the local bus stand one km away from the present site on the Nadaun-Hamirpur highway. Incidentally, the alternative site of the bus stand is also near the native village of Mr Mandyal.

Sources close to Mr Mandyal say that the bus stand was being shifted to end congestion at the present bus stand complex.

Local shopkeepers, who mostly belong to the BJP and the RSS, have opposed the move apprehending that there business would come to a halt. Some of them confided in this reporter that the real intention of the MLA was not to remove the congestion, but to shift the bus stand only to take revenge on them for opposing him during the last Assembly elections. Moreover, they say that Mr Mandyal and some of his henchmen wanted to construct shops and sell land around the proposed bus stand and pocket money.

They have also formed an action committee with Mr Ashutosh Goswami as its President and Mr Sudershan Jain as the General Secretary to resist the move to shift the bus stand. Mr Goswami said the bus stand would not be allowed to be shifted. In this connection, he said, he had talked to senior BJP leaders, including Mr Suresh Chandel, MP and Mr Jagat Parkash Nadda, State Health and Family Welfare Minister. He claimed that both the leaders had assured to help the local people in their fight on the bus stand issue.

He warned that if the bus stand was shifted, then an agitation would be launched. All BJP leaders and the senior district and state-level officers would be gheraoed. Traffic would be blocked.

The Congress men of the area, including Prof. Narain Chand Prasher, are critical of the proposed move.

The bus stand complex is frequented by thousands of people from Hamirpur and Dehra sub division of Kangra district. Karyana Market here is considered to be one of the cheapest and the best in the state.

Implement new pay scales: teachers
From Our Correspondent

SOLAN, Jan 31 — Teachers of the Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry at Nauni organised a silent dharna in front of the Vice-Chancellor's office yesterday.

They were protesting against the non-implementation of the Fifth Pay Commission recommendations in the case of university teachers.

The teachers' association President, Mr A.N. Kaushal, and the General Secretary, Mr K.S. Thakur, told newspersons that the state government was expected to implement the pay commission recommendations after the formal notification by the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development on November 6, 1998. However, the government had not taken the requisite action, thus causing considerable financial losses to the teaching community.

They said the teachers would be compelled to take some drastic action if the revised pay scales were not implemented immediately.

Khalsa celebrations in HP sought
From Our Correspondent

SOLAN, Jan 31 — The senior vice-president of the Samajvadi Janta Party, Himachal Pradesh, Mr Kul Rakesh Pant, has urged the Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, to celebrate the tercentenary of the Khalsa Panth in a befitting manner.

Releasing copies of his letter to the Chief Minister to the press here today, Mr Pant said the tenth Guru, who founded the panth, had played a great role in the socio-literary field during his stay in Himachal Pradesh.

He said Guru Sahib had penned the celebrated volume "Krishnavtar" during his stay at Paonta Sahib in Sirmaur district.

Mr Pant also suggested that a meeting of the persons concerning and organisations should be convened at an early date for finalising the programme. He said special efforts should be made to create awareness about the teachings of the Guru at all the places which were blessed by his presence.

The founder of the panth had visited Naina Devi, Mandi and Manikaran amongst other towns in the state.

7 hurt as jeep falls into gorge
From Our Correspondent

CHAMBA, Jan 31 — Seven persons were seriously injured when a jeep (HP-48/1211) rolled down a gorge on the Chamba-Kohladi road near here this morning.

According to an official spokesman, one person was stated to be in serious condition. The injured have been admitted to the District Hospital, Chamba.

The district authorities were conducting the relief and rescue operations.

The injured have been identified as Naresh Kumar, Sunil Kumar, Ramesh, Tilak, Krishan Kumar, Jagdish, and Pawan of the Udaypur area of Chamba district.

The police has registered a case.

Avalanche warning in Pangi valley
From Our Correspondent

CHAMBA, Jan 31 — Residents of the higher reaches of Pangi valley in Chamba district have been warned against avalanches.

In a telephonic message, to this reporter here today, Mr Prabhat Sharma Sub-Divisional Magistrate of Pangi tribal subdivision said Pangi valley was already cut off from the rest of the state. Killar, the subdivisional headquarters of the valley, recorded 50 centimetres of snow.