NJPC HQ shifted
SHIMLA, June 17 — The headquarters of the Nathpa Jhakri Power Corporation, which had been functioning from Delhi all these years, will be shifted to Shimla with immediate effect.

Fruit clumping hits mango crop
NURPUR: Fruit clumping, a dreaded disorder, has gripped the mango crop in Kangra district, dismaying the fruit growers.

Gunner Yashwant Singh cremated
SHIMLA, June 17 — Yashwant Singh, a gunner of 15 Field Regiment who fell to Pakistani shelling at Kargil on Monday, was cremated with full military honours at his native village Kwali, 100 km from here today.

Chamba Dharamsala Mandi Shimla

Shanta ‘bribing’ electorate
DHARAMSALA, June 17 — The PCC chief, Mr Sat Mahajan, today accused the former Chief Minister, Mr Shanta Kumar, of trying to bribe the electorate, after having lost on the ideological front and performance base.

• Shanta refutes Congress charge

Dhumal visits martyrs' families
MANDI, June 17 — Himachal Chief Minister Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal yesterday visited Siyahan, Dhanotu and Rewalsar to convey his condolences to the families of martyrs who laid down their lives while fighting the Pakistani infiltrators.

Imams condemn infiltration
SHIMLA, June 17 — Maulana Mumtaz Ahmad Quasmi, President of the Tanzim-e-Aima (association of the Imams) of Punjab, Himachal, Haryana and Chandigarh condemned Pakistan's dastardly action of torturing and mutilating the bodies of Indian soldiers.

NJPC HQ shifted to Shimla
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, June 17 — The headquarters of the Nathpa Jhakri Power Corporation, which had been functioning from Delhi all these years, will be shifted to Shimla with immediate effect.

This was decided at the meeting of the state rehabilitation committee held under the chairmanship of Dr Rajan Sushant, the Revenue Minister. Mr Arun Gupta, Chairman-cum-Managing Director of the corporation also attended the meeting.

Dr Sushant said that this decision would help in early completion of the project, besides resolving matters regarding rehabilitation and relief to the affected people.

He said that separate committees would be constituted for assessing the loss to land, houses, roads and drinking water schemes within a week for the Kinnaur and Rampur areas.

The representatives of the government, NJPC and public representatives of the affected areas would be included in the committee. He further said that the committee would complete the survey work within two months and necessary funds would be provided by the corporation on the basis of the report.

Dr Sushant said that the Sub-Divisional Officer (Civil) Bhaba has been delegated the powers of relief and rehabilitation officer for the convenience of affected people of Kinnaur and now they will not have to visit Rampur for redressal of their grievances.

The Revenue Minister directed the corporation authorities to provide employment to the remaining 19 families within three months.

It was decided in the meeting that free treatment will be provided to affected families in the hospital opened by NJPC and school-going children of the affected families would be provided the same primary educational facilities on the pattern of the children of NJPC employees.

It was also decided in principle to provide employment to persons affected by the project and for this purpose a meeting would be convened within a month of the three main companies executing the project and the committee set up for this purpose.

Fruit clumping hits mango crop
From Rajiv Mahajan

NURPUR: Fruit clumping, a dreaded disorder, has gripped the mango crop in Kangra district, dismaying the fruit growers. The growers who have a scanty mango crop this year have been disappointed over the sudden appearance of this fruit deformity. The mango orchards of Ganoh, Satrari, Aghar, Chhatar, Daghla and Mehta villages are affected the most.

According to Dr S.D. Badiyala, Associate Director, Regional Horticulture Research Station, Jachh, this disorder is characterised by the clumping of fruitlets, giving a bunchy appearance. These fruitlets are dark green in colour (see photo), clumped and deformed with a deep curve in the sinus beak region. After attaining the size of a pea, the growth of the fruit is halted. As a sequel, there is a considerable fruit drop. Affected fruits are found with aborted embryos. Some fruits have cracks in the sinus beak region. Dr Badiyala pointed out that the incidence of fruit clumping was serious in the "dashehri variety of mango. particularly in older mango trees.

Scientists of the Regional Research Station had reported fruit clumping deformity in some of the mango orchards for the first time in 1994 in the Ganoh and Raja-ka-Talab areas. This disorder had been noticed in many other orchards in the region, causing a sharp fall in fruit yield.

The research station studied the disorder and came to the conclusion that the dry spell or a scanty rainfall during the fruition stage was the major cause of this disorder.

The problem was more physiological in nature as no association of pests and disease could be detected from the affected fruit parts. Finally, the research station concluded that this disorder was due to "boron" deficiency and suggested one spray of "borax" (0.1 per cent) at the fruition stage and the mulching of tree basin with hay which helps in correcting this malady.

Shanta ‘bribing’ electorate
Tribune News Service

DHARAMSALA, June 17 — The PCC chief, Mr Sat Mahajan, today accused the former Chief Minister, Mr Shanta Kumar, of trying to bribe the electorate, after having lost on the ideological front and performance base.

Addressing a press conference yesterday, the Congress chief said that despite having ceased to be a Member of Parliament from April 18, Mr Shanta Kumar, had been taking the people for a ride by announcing money from the MP Development Fund. "It is pity that Mr Shanta Kumar is trying to bribe the people and we will definitely report the matter to the Election Commission," he stated. He further accused Mr Shanta Kumar of giving false figures and diverting the money allocated by him for various schemes during his tenure as MP.

Citing certain examples he said the money he had announced for a stadium at Rajgir and for a bridge at Dugiari in Kangra had not been given which was unethical. Mr Mahajan said to justify the announcements being made by Mr Shanta Kumar, after April 18, one of the ministers of the state government went to the extent of saying that the state would bear the expenditure of the schemes. He said since the Chief Minister holds the Finance Department, he should clarify the actual position on the issue.

Meanwhile, in the general house meeting of the DCC held here today, party workers from all over the district passed a unanimous resolution, that Mr Sat Mahajan, be made the Congress candidate from the Kangra parliamentary constituency. The resolution was moved by former MLA, Mr Viram Katoch and DCC General Secretary, Mr Sumer Nath.

Shanta refutes Congress charge
From Our Correspondent

CHAMBA, June 17 — A former Chief Minister, Mr Shanta Kumar has refuted the charge of Congress leaders that Mr Shanta Kumar and the Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal have sold the state’s interests with regard to hydroelectricity.

Talking to newspersons here today, Mr Shanta Kumar said that the charge was baseless.

Mr Shanta Kumar said last year the BJP-led coalition government at the Centre had raised the investment ration of hydroelectricity generation from 25 per cent to 40 per cent which benefitted Himachal Pradesh where the hydroelectrici potential was high. Besides, the Centre had cleared the Chamera project (stage-II) pending for the past 17 years,work on which was going on in full swing, he said.

Mr Shanta Kumar further said the Centre had also sanctioned a Rs 8.5 crore vanaspati van project and released Rs 66 crore as compensation to oustees of the Thein Dam of Banikhet.

Gunner Yashwant Singh cremated
From Tribune Reporters

SHIMLA, June 17 — Yashwant Singh, a gunner of 15 Field Regiment who fell to Pakistani shelling at Kargil on Monday, was cremated with full military honours at his native village Kwali, about 100-km from here today. His two cousins lit the pyre amid chanting of vedic hymns. The body, which was brought here yesterday, was kept in state for the night at Shimla and carried to his native village this morning in an army vehicle. Hundreds of people paid homage enroute.

Hav Beejay Singh: The body of Havaldar Beejay Singh of Jat Regiment who laid down his life while fighting Pakistani infiltrators in the Kaksar area on June 12, was cremated with full military honours at his village, Puthar, on Tuesday. The eldest son of the martyr Jaswant Singh (9) lit the pyre while an army contingent reversed arms and bugglers sounded the last post. More than 2000 villagers from Puthar and the adjoining villages were present at the cremation. Havaldar Beejay Singh is survived by his wife Ms Bimla Devi (35 yrs.) 2 sons and 2 daughters.

Naik Rakesh Kumar: Yet another soldier from district Kangra, has made the supreme sacrifice while fighting Pakistani infiltrators in the Kargil sector. According to information available so far 35 year old Naik Rakesh Kumar, of the 13 J&K Rifles was killed while fighting the enemy from across the border. Naik Rakesh belongs to Lambapath village about 10 km from Palampur.

Naik Rakesh Kumar is learnt to have died on the night of June 13.

Sepoy Manohar Lal: Sepoy Manohar Lal of 18-Grenadiers a resident of Dhani Dulat village of Fatheabad district laid down his life while fighting for the country in the Kargil sector. According to Zila Sainik Board sources, the body of the martyr will be brought to his village late in the evening today and will be cremated at Dhani Dulat tomorrow.

Dhumal visits martyrs' families
From Our Correspondent

MANDI, June 17 — Himachal Chief Minister Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal yesterday visited Siyahan, Dhanotu and Rewalsar to convey his condolences to the families of martyrs who laid down their lives while fighting the Pakistani infiltrators.

He also presented cheques of Rs 2 lakh each to the widows of Sarwan Kumar of 315 FD, Grenadier Regiment, Tek Chand of 7 Dogra Regiment and Rajesh Chauhan of 22-Rashtriya Rifles who died fighting intruders in Kargil and Jaurian sectors of Jammu and Kashmir.

Condolence meetings were also held in each village where people observed two-minutes silence and paid tributes to the martyrs.

Imams condemn infiltration
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, June 17 — Maulana Mumtaz Ahmad Quasmi, President of the Tanzim-e-Aima (association of the Imams) of Punjab, Himachal, Haryana and Chandigarh condemned Pakistan's dastardly action of torturing and mutilating the bodies of Indian soldiers.

Terming Pakistan's attack on India as an act of treachery, he said even before the ink on the Lahore declaration had dried it sent terrorists into Kashmir.

The mad youth, who Pakistan calls 'mujaheedin', were simply terrorists and their acts of destruction and wanton killings could not be described as jehad.

Maulana Quasmi said that the Government of Pakistan, by imposing a war-like situation, was trying to divert the attention of the people of Pakistan from basic problems.

Maulana Quasmi appealed to the people, especially muslims of the state, to pray for the success of Indian soldiers and to be prepared to make every sacrifice for the country. He also appealed to the members of the Tanzeem-e-Aima of the Punjab, Himachal, Haryana and Chandigarh to organise blood donation camps in their area as a part of Milad-e-Nabi celebrations.