Cancellation of project flayed
DHARAMSALA, Feb 13 — A sitting MLA and Joint Secretary of the HPCC, Mr G.S. Bali, today criticised the government for cancelling the agreement for the Uhl ( Phase III ) Power Project.

All set for Mandi’s Shivratri Fair
From Kishori Lal

MANDI: A rousing reception awaits over 150 hill gods and goddesses who would converge on the sprawling Padal ground to participate in the centuries-old Shivratri Fair which begin from February 14 at the temple of Bhutnath, the presiding deity of Mandi town.

The rulers of Mandi state were devotees of Lord Shiva. Mandi, which is called the "Kashi" of Himachal, is dotted by many Shiva shrines. Prominent among them are the temples of Bhutnath, Trilokinath, Panchvaktara and Ardhnarishwar. Built in shikhara-style these are the finest specimen of hill architecture.

The Shivratri Fair is being celebrated since founding of Mandi town in 1526 during the rule of Ajber Sen. Before that the capital town of Mandi was located on the right bank of the Beas at Bhiuli.

Legend has it that the land on which Mandi town has been built was a dense forest. A villager was intrigued to note that his "Kapila" cow was not yielding the desired milk. On examination, he was astonished to find that the cow had been spilling milk on a stone. The news spread in the town and also reached the Raja, who verified it personally.

In the meantime, Ajber Sen saw Lord Shiva in a dream and ordained him to dig below the stone. He did it in the morning and was overwhelmed with joy to find a shivlinga buried there.

To mark the event he built the temple of Bhutnath there. The foundation of Mandi town was also laid simultaneously. The capital was then shifted to the left bank.

Ajber Sen held a grand congregation on Mahashivratri in which hill gods and goddesses of the state were invited to celebrate the birth of the new town. In the olden days, Shivratri celebrations lasted for a month. As the years rolled by, the fairs have shrunk to a week.

The former Chief Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh himself a ruler, restore the royal grandeur to Mandi's Shivratri fair. It was first elevated to a state fair and then to an international fair.

A new development took place during the days of Surya Sen, who ruled Mandi from 1664 to 1679. He vested sovereignty to Madho Rai (Lord Vishnu) as he had no heir. All his 18 sons died in his life time. The silver image of Madho Rai is still revered as before. His ratha leads all other gods and goddesses in the Shobha Yatra. The Raja's role has now been taken over by the elected rulers and governors. They perform pooja in keeping with the centuries-old traditions.

The Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, will inaugurate the fair on February 15 this year and join the Shoba Yatra.

Thousands of people line up on both sides of the road from Seri to Padal ground to have a glimpse of the divine procession. Led by Madho Rai, hundreds of hill gods and goddesses followed by the elite of the town, wearing coloured turbans march in procession. The town resounds with orchestra from contingents of the police, home guard and the NCC, besides local players. The Shoba Yatra terminates at Padal ground, the venue of the fairs.

Each fair begins with traditional pooja at different temples every day. The fair is dedicated to a particular deity.

The Shivratri exhibition at Padal is another centre of attraction. Central and state government agencies put up stalls to educate the rural people about the latest developments in agriculture, horticulture, industry and other spheres of activities. Private parties also put up stalls in the exhibition.

The Shivratri sports events organised during the fairs also draw large crowds. A wrestling competitions are also organised.

The evening cultural programme at the Seri pavilion are one attraction of the fairs, where artistes of national and international repute regale the audience. For the first time this year Gramshri, a galaxy of 50 artistes from the North East and South, would entertain the people here.

A group of Russian artistes is also coming for the first time, says Mr Probodh Saxena, Deputy Commissioner, who heads the Shivratri Mela Committee.

Cancellation of project flayed
Tribune News Service

DHARAMSALA, Feb 13 — A sitting MLA and Joint Secretary of the HPCC, Mr G.S. Bali, today criticised the government for cancelling the agreement for the Uhl ( Phase III ) Power Project.

Addressing a press conference here today, Mr Bali said the government should not cancel any agreements made by the previous government, as it discourages private investors from setting up units in the state.

He said his party was also in favour of utilising the immense hydel power potential in the state. He said there were a number of other projects where the private parties had failed to start work, but their agreements had not been cancelled by the government.

Mr Bali said the visit of the Chief Minister here in winters had been a big disappointment for the people of Kangra. He added that most of the projects which were inaugurated by the Chief Minister had been initiated by the Congress government and even budgetary provisions had been made for them. He said the Langar Bhavan at Chamunda, Vikas Bhavan, Sports Complex and the college library, had all been sanctioned by the Virbhadra government.

Mr Bali, termed the BJP propaganda that the Congress was anti-Kangra, as absolutely false. He said, "It is a pity that some politicians for their own vested interests are trying to divide the people of the state". He felt the need of the hour was to tackle the unemployment problem and the poor financial condition of the state, rather than to indulge in petty politics.

Mr Bali stated that there would be a Congress-sponsored "chakka jam" in the state on March 5 to protest against the hike in power tariff.

Virbhadra accused of distorting facts
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Feb 13 — Mr Suresh Chandel, president of the state unit of the BJP, yesterday charged Mr Virbhadra Singh, a former Chief Minister, with distorting facts regarding Tanda Medical College which was opened by the Congress government in undue haste without securing the mandatory approval of the Medical Council of India to gain political mileage.

Talking to mediapersons here he said the main objective of opening a medical college in Kangra was to contain the backlash due to stalling of the prestigious Apollo Hospital project in the merged areas.

Mr Chandel said the fact that the present government had managed to secure the permission for opening the college from the Medical Council of India and the Union Minister for Health, in January this year, clearly indicated that the Virbhadra Singh government had played a fraud on people. Similarly, the dental college, which was opened in 1994, was yet to get recognition from the Medical Council of India. He also alleged, Mr Virbhadra Singh had deliberately delayed work on Parbati and Larji hydel projects as these were taken up during the BJP rule.

He said the proposal to increase power tariff was finalised by the Congress government but it lacked the political courage to implement it and now when the BJP government had implemented it, the Congress was opposing the decision and threatening to launch an agitation.

HRTC to reward safe drivers
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Feb 13 — In a bid to encourage safe driving the Himachal Road Transport Corporation today decided to give cash rewards to drivers.

As per the decision taken at a meeting of the Board of Directors held under the chairmanship of the Transport Minister, Mr Krishan Kapoor, at Dharamsala today, the drivers having 15 years of service without any accident would be given Chief Minister’s Gold Medal and a cash prize of Rs 21,000.

Those who have completed 10 years of accident free service will receive Transport Minister’s Silver Medal along with a cash reward of Rs 11,000.

In another important decision the corporation decided to provide rest room facility at its bus stands to the crew of private bus operators.

The board also decided to raise the uniform allowance of workshop employees to bring it on a par with uniform allowance of the drivers.