ABVP opposes interference by ministers
SHIMLA, June 6 — The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad had taken exception to the increasing interference by ministers in the functioning of Himachal Pradesh University and other educational institutions of higher education and sought the intervention of the Governor to rectify the situation.

Tercentenary: 40 pledge to donate eyes
SHIMLA, June 6 — The week-long tercentenary celebrations of the Khalsa Panth being organised by the local Guru Singh Sabha, started with a blood and eye donation camp here today.

Himachal seeks solar cookers
SHIMLA, June 6 — Mr P.K. Dhumal, Chief Minister, has urged the Union Energy Minister, Mr P.K. Kumaramangalam, to provide an alternative source of energy to the hill people to reduce their dependence on forests.

Governor flags off expedition
SHIMLA, June 6 — The Himachal Pradesh Governor, Ms V.S. Rama Devi, today flagged off a team of 10 students and teachers of a local school on a mountaineering expedition to Leo Pargiyal (22.290 ft), the second highest mountain peak in the state, from Raj Bhavan here.

‘Events in Kargil justify N-tests’
SHIMLA, June 6 — The state Bharatiya Janata Party president, Mr Suresh Chandel, today said the events in Kargil had justified the Pokhran blasts and the test-firing of the Agni II by the Vajpayee government and proved the Congress and other parties which criticised the nuclear tests wrong.

Draughtsmen seek promotion
BILASPUR, June 6 — The Himachal Pradesh State Employees Federation has urged the government to look into long-pending demands of draughtsmen who have been suffering due to indifferent attitude adopted during the regime of former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh.

HVC pleads for ADA to pensioners
CHAMBA, June 6 — The Himachal Vikas Congress has urged the Himachal Chief Minister, Prof Prem Kumar Dhumal to release an additional dearness allowance instalment to Himachal Pradesh pensioners at the rate of 10 per cent from January 1999.

Chamba dist YC office-bearers
SHIMLA, June 6 — Mr Mahinder Handa has been nominated president of the Chamba district Youth Congress Committee of Himachal Pradesh.

HPTDC staff call off stir
SHIMLA, June 6 — The Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation Employees Union called off its four-day-old strike following talks with the management of the corporation this evening.

3.04 cr project to save Manali area
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, June 6 — The Himachal Pradesh Government has decided to launch a Rs 3.04 crore project with the assistance of the Norwegian Government to facilitate the scientific disposal of solid waste in the environmentally fragile Kulu-Manali valley.

The phenomenal growth of the tourism industry over the past decade has virtually turned the scenic valley into an open garbage dump. The situation is the worst in and around Manali, where more than 400 hotels have come up. In the absence of proper facilities for the disposal of garbage, the swelling hotel waste has been dumped on the hills. It has not only marred the scenic beauty of the landscape but also polluted the Beas. In fact, studies conducted by the state Pollution Control Board have revealed that the Beas, which has been over the years virtually transformed into a drain, is the filthiest river in the state.

Under the project, for which Rs 2.25 crore will be provided by the Norwegian Government and the rest by the state, a modern plant for making manure from garbage will be set up in the heart of the valley between Kulu and Manali. The project will be implemented over three years.

The capacity of the plant will be six metric tonnes per day which will be increased to 10 metric tonnes later.

The garbage will be converted into manure which has high marketability in the agriculture and horticulture sectors. In addition, incinerators will be installed for the disposal of hospital waste. The drainage system will also be improved in Manali town.

The project will take care of areas right up to the Rohtang Pass.

Besides, information centres will be set up at the checkpost of Manali town. Tourists visiting the Rohtang Pass and other areas will be provided with bags with a request to bring their garbage back and deposit the bags at the information centres. Defaulters will be dealt with severely and a heavy penalty will be imposed on them.

Soldier cremated with full honours

MANDI, June 6 — Naik Shrawan Kumar, son of Dhanna Ram, who laid down his life at Dras sub-sector of Kargil on June 2 this week while fighting infiltrators, was cremated with full military and civil honours in this native village Bahli near Rewalsar today. He belonged to 315 FD Regiment.

Forest Minister Rup Singh, Minister of State for Animal Husbandry, Mr Prakash Chaudhary, Mr Jai Ram, MLA and district officials were among hundreds of people who attended the cremation.

The Forest Minister announced a grant of Rs 1 lakh for the family of the martyr on behalf of the state government while a sum of Rs 25000/- was released by the district administration.

It was also announced that a link road from Rewalsar to the village of the martyr would be constructed and named after him. A school in the village will also be opened in his memory.

Road network imperative
From Kanwar Yogendra

KUPVI: It is a sub-tehsil of Chopal in Shimla district and one of the most backward areas in the state. It comprises 11 panchayats with a population of 25,000 but remains unconnected to even the tehsil headquarters.

The road from Chopal to Kupvi via Nerwa goes uncommutable in slight bad weather conditions. Then this area can only be approached from Haripur Dhar in Sirmaur district. Most villagers are surprised why Kupvi is with Chopal tehsil in Shimla and not made part of Sirmaur district which is more close to it, both geographically and culturally.

Agricultural land in Kupvi is very fertile and productive. It is most ideal for off season vegetables and some horticultural products. But in the absence of a road network there is no scope for marketing the produce.Therefore, most farmers stick to the traditional crop pattern.

There is an immediate requirement for improving the Daduhu-Chopal road, Sanj Khud-Kupvi road, Majholi-Bagh-Panog road, Daea-Malal-Jubbali-Dhar Channa road Kadi-Vijmal road and Lavan Dhar-Kafla-Chamja-Aul road. Bridges on various khuds and rivulets cutting these roads are a must.

Most schools in the area are understaffed, the problem having been more acute since the past one year, complain the residents. A plus two school was started in few years back when villagers and students collected Rs 83,000 in donation. Some rooms were hired in a private building on a monthly rent but these are insufficient and most classes are taken in the open. There are no toilets or drinking water facility for the students and teachers. A sum of Rs 40,000 was sanctioned by the district administration for the same but nothing has been done so far. However, the Deputy Commissioner who once visited the sub-tehsil, denied this. Says Shyam Rawat, a local youth, in the absence of checks , teachers remain more at home that at school. Some of them even come drunk. Very often the peon acts as principal in the absence of any teacher. A long pending demand of the villagers have been a block primary education office in the area.

Copying in exams is rampant. The Subdivisional Magistrate (SDM), of Chopal, was stabbed this year during the exams when he tried to check copying. Some people say students resort to copying since there are no teachers and the syllabi is left uncovered. There were two teachers on contract at Kafla high school some time back. There was only one teacher on deputation at Kujaha school and one at Bhalu Middle School. There was no teacher last year in Harna school. Some villagers took the classes and kept the school going.

The Deputy Commissioner denies this and says there is no dearth of staff in Kupvi schools he says it is difficult to check copying as the area is remote and difficult to reach.

The Primary Health Centre( PHC) in Kupvi is ill-equipped. There is scarcity of doctors, pharmacists and nurses. Four persons died due to gastro-enteritis as no first aid was given to them. Patients coming from far-flung hamlets have to bring there own bedding to the PHC.

Most patients go to Haripur Dhar and Rajgarh in Sirmaur and even to Solan for treatment. The villagers demand a PHC in Dhar Channa and Sanj and an X-ray plant with a community health centre in Kupvi.

Hundreds of sheep and other cattlehead die in the area every year because there are no veterinary facilities. There are no PDS outlets in the area.

Power in Kupvi is available for just for one and a half months in a year, says Mr Mohar Singh Thakur, State Secretary, CPM, who belongs to Chalan village in Kupvi. The voltage is so low that most households use kerosene lamps round the year. " We want an electricity connection from the Sirmaur line so that at least some supply is ensured," says Mr Thakur. A 33 KV sub-station should be installed in Kupvi and the Sanj power project should be completed soon, he says.

There is also a need for a Krishi Vigyan Kendra, a fertiliser depot and a seed and medicine distribution centre. A lot can be done if Kupvi is made a tehsil with a Block Development Office. But there is no such proposal, at least in the coming times, says the administration.

Dhumal defends step on Parbati project
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, June 6 — Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister, today defended the government's decision to entrust the 2051 MW Parbati project to the National Hydel Power Corporation for execution and asserted that the interests of the states concerned would be fully projected.

Referring to the statement of Mr Bansi Lal Haryana Chief Minister, that Haryana was not consulted while taking the decision, he said the state had no option but to hand over the project to a central agency as none of the five partner states were in a position to spare funds for the execution of the Rs 15,000 crore project. Under the new agreement, Himachal would get only 30 per cent power, including 12 per cent free power as royalty, and the rest of it would be given to the states of the region which were partners in the earlier agreement.

The arrangement was in the interest of all states as they would get power without making any investment. He said he would take up the issue with Mr Bansi Lal and apprise him of the factual position.

ABVP opposes interference by ministers
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, June 6 — The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad had taken exception to the increasing interference by ministers in the functioning of Himachal Pradesh University and other educational institutions of higher education and sought the intervention of the Governor to rectify the situation.

The parishad alleged that the Vice-Chancellor and the Pro-Vice-Chancellor were under pressure to hush up the fake marksheet scandal, which took place during the tenure of the Congress government. The parishad had given specific information along with proof to the university authorities but no action had been taken in the matter.

It demanded an enquiry by a judge of the high court into "irregularities" in the recruitment of teachers and other employees in the university over the past five years.

While ministers were interfering in the functioning of the university, certain leaders were busy organising students in various hostels on regional lines. Their activities were creating problems on the campus.

It also opposed the increase in fees and demanded the immediate withdrawal of the hike.

Tercentenary: 40 pledge to donate eyes
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, June 6 — The week-long tercentenary celebrations of the Khalsa Panth being organised by the local Guru Singh Sabha, started with a blood and eye donation camp here today.

A large number of women were among the blood donors, about 40 persons also pledged to donate their eyes.

The sabha will organise prabhat pheries from the main Gurdwara daily from June 8 to 11 and a nagar kirtan on June 12.

An exhibition on the Sikh history will also be organised at the local Rani Jhansi Park. Special langars will be organised, on June 14 to 16 when Mr Prakash Singh Badal and Mr P.K. Dhumal, Chief Ministers of Punjab and Himachal, respectively,will grace the occasion.

Himachal seeks solar cookers
From Our Correspondent

SHIMLA, June 6 — Mr P.K. Dhumal, Chief Minister, has urged the Union Energy Minister, Mr P.K. Kumaramangalam, to provide an alternative source of energy to the hill people to reduce their dependence on forests.

Mr Dhumal, during his meeting with Mr Kumaramangalam at Chamba yesterday, emphasised that the ever-depleting forest reserves in the hills could be saved only if people were provided with a cheaper source of energy like solar cookers to replace firewood. At present villagers were collecting firewood from forests and it cost nothing.

People in the hills were poor and could not afford cooking gas. However, if the Centre came out with a scheme to provide solar cookers it would go a long way in reducing the pressure on forests.

He urged the minister to sanction nine lakh solar cookers to cover every rural household in the state.

The Chief Minister thanked Mr Kumaramangalam for accepting the demand for providing employment to one member of each of the 210 families who would be uprooted due to the construction of the Chamera II project.

Governor flags off expedition

SHIMLA, June 6 (UNI) — The Himachal Pradesh Governor, Ms V.S. Rama Devi, today flagged off a team of 10 students and teachers of a local school on a mountaineering expedition to Leo Pargiyal (22.290 ft), the second highest mountain peak in the state, from Raj Bhavan here.

She handed over the expedition flags to Rajeev Sharma, chief Instructor, and Ranjit Singh, school leader.

The team had been prepared by Brig D.K. Khullar, Padma Shri and Everester, for the three-week expedition and was accompanied by the five instructors from the Western Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, Manali.

Extending her good wishes to the expeditionists, the Governor said extra-curricular activities like mountaineering helped in personality development of students.

She asked students to take interest in adventure sports for which there were ample opportunities available in the state.

‘Events in Kargil justify N-tests’
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, June 6 — The state Bharatiya Janata Party president, Mr Suresh Chandel, today said the events in Kargil had justified the Pokhran blasts and the test-firing of the Agni II by the Vajpayee government and proved the Congress and other parties which criticised the nuclear tests wrong.

In a statement here today, Mr Chandel said the display of the nation's military prowess had deterred the enemies of the nation from embarking on a full-fledged attack in Kashmir.

He claimed that it was the success of the Vajpayee government on the diplomatic front that Pakistan today stood isolated in the comity of nations.

Draughtsmen seek promotion
From Our Correspondent

BILASPUR, June 6 — The Himachal Pradesh State Employees Federation has urged the government to look into long-pending demands of draughtsment who have been suffering due to indifferent attitude adopted during the regime of former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh.

Addressing mediapersons here today, federation had opposed the 12 years' ban on annual increments of junior draughtsmen and the government must remove the ban.

He said the Congress government had imposed ban on draughtsmen's promotions four years ago. He demanded that this ban should also be ended and vacant posts in various departments should be filled up immediately.

He said hundreds of senior draughtsmen were waiting for promotions and thousands of trained unemployed draftsmen had been waiting for appointments for the past several years.

Other resolutions demanded that the promotion quota for the post of assistant engineers which was reduced during rule of Mr Virbhadra Singh should be restored, recruitment and promotion rules should be finalised, duties in office should be properly codified and circle head draughtsmen should be given gazetted status.

HVC pleads for ADA to pensioners
From Our Correspondent

CHAMBA, June 6 — The Himachal Vikas Congress (HVC) has urged the Himachal Chief Minister, Prof Prem Kumar Dhumal to release an additional dearness allowance (ADA) instalment to Himachal Pradesh pensioners at the rate of 10 per cent from January 1999.

In a press note issued here today, Mr P.C. Oberoy district president and Mr Shadi Lal Sharma, general secretary of the district unit of the HVC has requested the Chief Minister to direct the state government to pass orders releasing the ADA instalment on a par with serving employees of the state government to avoid hardship to the pensioners.

Both leaders also demanded to issue such orders simultaneously with regard to the serving employees.

Chamba dist YC office-bearers
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, June 6 — Mr Mahinder Handa has been nominated president of the Chamba district Youth Congress Committee of Himachal Pradesh.

According to Mr Sukhwinder Singh, president, Youth Congress, the other office-bearers are; Miss Sapna, Jasrotia, Mr Ejaj Ahmad, Mr Narinder Rawat, Mr Bhupinder Guleria and Mr Jaginder Rana (vice-presidents).

Mr Pratap Singh, Mr Manoj Kumar, Miss Sarita Sharma, Mr Pawan Thakur, Mr Kartar Singh and Mr Raj Kumar (general secretaries).

HPTDC staff call off stir
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, June 6 — The Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation Employees Union called off its four-day-old strike following talks with the management of the corporation this evening.

During the talks, Mr P.C Kapoor, Managing Director of the corporation, assured representatives of the employee that their demands would be considered sympathetically if they called off their strike unconditionally.

He also assured that the management would take a decision on the demands within a week. The employee leaders also met the Chief Minister later.