 |
| Wednesday, July 12, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
|
Steps to produce caviar Sukh Ram hardens stand Notice to Home
Secy in dowry case Plea on import
of exotic bees Speaker asks Sukh Ram
about split Freedom fighters’
plea to HP Govt CM calls for conserving water
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Law on
rain water harvesting likely One held, 4 kg of
opium seized 3 brothers injured
in group clash
|
|
Exhibitions ‘hit’ local traders SHIMLA: If the common man on the road in Shimla is asked these days: “Who gets the most benefit by the non-stop tourist influx into the town?” “Obviously, it is the maintown traders and hotel owners”, comes the reply of Shimlaites. “We prefer to go out of Shimla because of heavy tourist rush, as the prices of every commodity go sky-high, we have to face constant water shortage and we feel out of place”, complain a cross section of Shimla residents. To scatter this unprecedented rush from The Mall and Ridge, the administration for some time has started certain art and craft exhibitions and fairs, the latest being “Craftloom 2000”. Even the local population is very happy and satisfied with these extra attractions as they get exposure to a variety of consumer items from all over the country, under one roof. The local market with its constraints and monopoly can never have such a display”, says Ravinder, a consumer who was buying excellent artistic furniture from UP, made by workers of a cooperative society at the art and craft exhibition in Ladies Park. But now these art and craft exhibitions have taken a commercial form. These are manned by professional promoters from the plains, who take sites at minimal prices from the local administration and later sell it to outside traders, say a number of Mall shopkeepers, who are envious looking at the amount of business these stalls are doing at Rani Jhansi Park. “We have just these two months to earn but now no one is entering our shops”, says Anil, a gift shop owner. They are selling items four times more than us at the exhibition, says a neighbouring crockery shop owner, showing his glass dinner set. These are no art and craft societies: these are fakely registered and most of the items being sold in this exhibition are from Sadar Bazar, Delhi and the handlooms of Panipat, allege Mall Business Association members. Why can’t these attract people, including locals, when they sell better goods at lower prices? These shop owners reply, “It is always psychological to get attracted to exhibition and fairs”. “Even I could not stop my wife from buying a number of things from this exhibition”, confesses a local trader. On the other hand, Ms Shweta, president of TCCWA (Traditional Crafts Creation Women Association), has a different story to tell when her group was told to shut down the exhibition a few days back, by the local Beopar Mandal. We have called weavers and cooperative societies from all over to participate in this exhibition, she says. Before this there was an exhibition, “Lipakshi”, by artisans and craftsmen of Andhra Pradesh. “We charge money from willing stall owners to meet our expenses”, she says while showing the huge hanger system they have created with sufficient lights and fans inside. “There is a deliberate attempt by the Shimla Beopar Mandal to stop our art and crafts exhibition”, says Vikas Kaistha, president of Chamunda Society, who is holding another exhibition. A number of staff owners complained of misconduct, manhandling and threats by Shimla traders in one of the exhibitions. The stall owners have paid Rs 70,000 as sales tax to the HP Government and Rs 20,000 to the Electricity Department, says Shweta (whereas Shimla traders claim that no sales tax has been paid by the participants of these exhibitions). “No Himachal exhibition will be allowed in Pragati Maidan and other parts of Delhi in future, if we are harassed like this”, threatens Kaistha, who hails from Kangra. But it is the residents of town and tourists who suffer in this controversy. The monopoly of Shimla shopkeepers should be stopped, says Karan Singh Ritesh who comes from Upper Shimla to buy items in the exhibitions. These exhibitions should run round the year, so that people can have an alternative, as Shimla shopkeepers work with a psyche. The items in the exhibitions are far better, unique and cheap but we are always forced to buy these from the same shops of Shimla. “We are at mercy of these shopkeepers”, says Dr SP Katyal, a local politician. How many shops in Shimla are selling cane furniture, pottery, artefects of different metals, handlooms and handicraft items from the South and North-East, asked a number of residents who were not allowed to enter the exhibition by local traders, some time back. Even if the items are from Sadar Bazar, what is the harm, when these are available. These are the same shopkeepers who stopped a second-hand goods Sunday market at Rani Jhansi Park a couple of years back, they further add. There are a number of gifts at the exhibitions a tourist can take at the end of his trip, but it was blatantly stopped by Shimla shopkeepers, complained S.M. Ray, a tourist from Bengal. “I am shocked at the role of the administration and police when they kept looking at boisterous Beopar Mandal activists, shutting down the stalls of various artisans and craftsmen”, says a CITU worker, who had come with his family for this exhibition and who had received a thorough bashing from the same people when he protested against the entry of multinational companies. “The administration should protect the interests and rights of artisans and cooperatives as they may be from any part of the country”, comments Rakesh Singha, a former Shimla MLA, over the presence of exhibitions in the town. |
|
Steps to produce caviar SHIMLA, July 11 — Encouraged by its success in breeding trout the State Fisheries Department is planning to produce value-added items like caviar and smoked fish with an eye on the export market. The production of trout in the State has shot up from a few hundred kilogrammes to over 20 tonne during the past five years mainly due to the breakthrough achieved in breeding the cold water fish under the Norwegian project. The five trout farms of the department were producing about 8 lakh trout eggs as against its own requirement of about three lakh eggs for stocking the rivers and supplying to the private fish rearers. The department was in a position to produce up to 40 lakh eggs annually, but to achieve the full capacity it has to diversify and go for value added trout products like the expensive caviar (pickled fish eggs) which are much in demand in the Middle East and other rich countries, says Mr Sudripto Roy, Secretary, fisheries. The price of caviar was as high as Rs 2500 per kg in the export market which was a far more attractive proposition than rearing trout for edible purposes, he observed. The department is securing the knowhow for producing caviar from the Central Institute of Fisheries Research, Cochin. At present the main problem in rearing trout on a commercial scale is its short shelf life of less than 48 hours. Since the cold water fish is reared in snowfed rivers in high hills far away from the consumers in big cities, marketing is indeed a problem. The department has now decided to produce smoked fish using Norwegian technology. The shelf life of smoked fish is up to 60 days. It involves a simple process in which fresh trout is heated in a specially designed woodfired kiln at temperatures between 40°C to 60°C for a few hours to evaporate the moisture. The smoke which penetrates the skin of the fish not only forms a protective layer on the dried fish but also lends it a unique flavour depending on the species of wood used in the kiln. Initially, two smoking plants were proposed to be set up in the Kulu valley at a cost of Rs 16 lakh. If the export effort is successful more such plants will be put up in trout producing areas like upper Shimla, Kinnaur and Chamba. The production of trout is likely to further increase with the setting up of new breeding farm at Holi in the tribal Bharmour. The farm will enable the department to exploit the vast potential of the Ravi and its tributories for production of trout. Himachal Pradesh which had been importing trout eggs and seedlings until six years ago for stocking its rivers, is now meeting the requirement of other states like Arunachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Plans are afoot to encourage rearing of trout on a commercial scale in the private sector. A scheme is being worked out to provide financial assistance for pisciculture units, which require about Rs 1 lakh through the National Bank of Rural and Agriculture Development. Trout is much in demand in Europe and Middle East countries but in India its consumption is confined only to five star hotels and embassies. The department has not decided to launch a campaign to popularise the trout delicacies. It will organise a trout festival at New Delhi in October. |
|
Sukh Ram hardens stand SHIMLA, July 11—Buoyed by the success of the Mandi rally to mark the foundation day of the Himachal Vikas
Congress, the party supremo, Mr Sukh Ram, has hardened his stand on the removal of the expelled leader, Mr Mohinder Singh , from the Cabinet. The HVC leader held an hourlong meeting with Mr P.K.Dhumal, Chief Minister, here yesterday during which he insisted that the errant leader be dropped from the ministry to resolve the issue which had strained ties between the coalition partners. Earlier, Mr Sukh Ram had been willing to settle the issue by getting the all important Public Works portfolio held by Mr Mohinder Singh swapped for a less important one. Mr Sukh Ram apprised the Chief Minister of the proceedings of the session held on the foundation day of the party at which a resolution demanding removal of the Public Works Minister was passed. He
informed Mr Dhumal that party conventions held in 11districts had also passed a similar resolution. The HVC leader clarified during the meeting that Mr Anil Sharma, his son and Rajya Sabha member, or any other party leader had not made derogatory references to the Chief Minister as alleged in a section of the media. He said though the leaders expressed anguish over the failure of the government to act on their demand, they refrained from criticising him from a public fora. The ball now is in the court of Mr Dhumal. He can retain Mr Mohinder Singh and risk annoying the HVC supremo who had played a crucial role in the formation of the coalition government in the wake of a hung Assembly. Meanwhile, the first meeting of the newly constituted state executive committee of the BJP being held here on July 13 and 14 has assumed significance in the back drop of the developments with the HVC and the airing of grievances by some Shanta Kumar loyalists. Mr Jaikrishan Sharma, party President, had advised partmen not to take party issues to the media and discuss grievances at the appropriate party forum. It remains to be seen whether or not the six Shanta Kumar loyalists, including three ministers, raise the issues in the presence of Mr Narinder Modi, all India BJP General Secretary and in charge of Himachal affairs, and Mr Shanta Kumar, Union Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Minister, who will be attending the meeting, besides the Chief Minister and other leaders. The resignation of Mr Des Raj from the state Finance Commission and the subsequent presentation of a car to him by party workers at a public function at Indora is also likely to be discussed at the meeting. The meeting is likely to chalk out the party’s strategy to counter the propaganda of the Congress which is preparing a charge sheet against the Dhumal government. |
|
Notice to Home
Secy in dowry case SHIMLA, July 11 — The Himachal Pradesh High Court has issued notices to the Secretary (Home) and also directed the Superintendent of Police, Una, to produce the record of an alleged bride burning case on July 30. A criminal writ petition had been filed, alleging inaction by the police in the case. These directions were issued by a Division Bench consisting of Chief Justice C.K. Thakkar and Mr Justice R.L. Khurana on the petition which was filed by the parents of the deceased girl. Counsel for the petitioner argued that the victim Kanta Devi was married to Subhash of Bathri village in Una district on December 4, 1999. Subsequently, her in-laws started demanding dowry and the parents of the girl kept meeting their demands. However, when the girl refused to bring more money, she was reportedly burnt alive on April 23, 2000. Within five months of the marriage, an FIR was registered at Una police station. The counsel said the police had failed to take action against Subhash Chander, husband, Dharam Pal, father-in-law, Maya Devi, mother-in-law, and Rama Devi and Veena Devi, both sisters-in-law. The parents of the deceased want the CBI to look into the matter. |
|
Plea on import
of exotic bees SOLAN, July 11 — Prof R.P. Awasthi, Vice-Chancellor, Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, yesterday cautioned epiculture scientists to exercise utmost restraint while introducing exotic bees and other insect crop pollinators as even a single small lapse could lead to total destruction of native and other well adapted exotic bee species. Dr Awasthi who earlier inaugurated a two-day group meeting of all-India coordinated project on honey bee research and training at the university at Nauni near here yesterday said that a substantial part of human diet was derived directly from insect pollinated crops. Areas like Himachal Pradesh have temperate fruits as the main crops were heavily dependent on honey bees for pollination. In some areas indigenous bees had become totaly extinct. It had been surmised that indiscriminate introduction of exotic species of bees was responsible for diseases like the Thai sac virus. Prof Awasthi also laid strong stress on improving per capita production of honey in the country. He said at present the per capita production of honey in developed countries was between 15 to 20 kg. Dr R.C. Mishra, project coordinator of the all-India coordinated project on honey bees and research, Dr S.N. Shukla, principal scientist, Indian Council of Agricultural Research and Dr K.K. Jindal, Director, Research also spoke. |
|
Speaker asks Sukh Ram
about split SHIMLA, July 11 — The Speaker, Thakur Gulab Singh, has sought the comments of Mr Sukh Ram, leader of the HVC legislature group, on the reply of Mr Mohinder Singh, PWD Minister, to the notice of the Speaker about his status following his expulsion from the HVC. It is reliably learnt that the Speaker sent a copy of the reply of Mr Mohinder Singh to Sukh Ram today for his comments. Mr Mohinder Singh had filed his reply yesterday to the query of the Speaker about his status following his expulsion from the HVC by Mr Sukh Ram. In his reply, Mr Mohinder Singh has reportedly claimed that his was the real HVC after the recent organisational elections. The Speaker will give his final verdict on the issue within a few days. |
|
Freedom fighters’
plea to HP Govt PALAMPUR, July 11 — Mr Tan Sen Kayastha, President of the Himachal Pradesh Freedom Fighters’ Wards Association, in a statement here today urged the state government to give the full benefit of 2 per cent reservation in jobs and admissions to wards of freedom fighters. He lamented that as of now the reservation really worked out to just 1 per cent as far as general category freedom fighters were concerned because the first post was normally given to any dalit if no freedom fighter from this category was found. He demanded that this caste-based reservation should not be adhered to so far as the first post was concerned. Even though the Himachal Government passed an order in 1997 asking all departments to work out the backlog since October, 1993, and fill these posts from among the wards of freedom fighters by launching a special recruitment drive, nothing concrete had been done in this direction. He criticised Himachal Pradesh University for not giving 2 per cent reservation in career courses like B.Ed, M.Sc, B.Sc (Medical) etc even though the same university granted this reservation to BA (Arts) students. |
|
CM calls for conserving water HAMIRPUR, July 11 — Prof Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister, today stressed the need for conservation of water. He said that water was a precious commodity and it should be used properly. Only 6 per cent of the potable water was being used for drinking purpose. The rest of the water was being used for other works like washing of clothes, utensils and kitchen gardening, he said. Addressing a public rally at Lal Batika here this evening, he asked the people to elect honest and hard working persons in the coming panchayat elections. He said that these elections would be vital as the state government had given vast powers to the panchayati raj institutions in the state. The Chief Minister said that panchayati raj institutions could function well provided right-thinking persons were elected to run these. He said that the main aim of the state government was to strengthen the panchayati raj system to help the poor and downtrodden sections of society. The Chief Minister hit out at the Congress party and its leaders for spreading false rumours about the functioning of his government. He claimed that his government was functioning well and delivering justice to the people all over the state. He described those reports as ‘absurd’ and ‘baseless’ which alleged that not even a single project inaugurated by him was instituted by the BJP government. He said that all three projects that were dedicated to the people at Hamirpur today were launched by his government. He praised the brave soldiers of the state for safeguarding the borders of India while fighting with Pakistanis. India was proud of them and all steps were being taken for the rehabilitation of their families, he said. He turned down the demand for a white paper on Kargil funds by Major Vijay Singh Mankotia, President of the HP Ex-servicemen League and a Congress leader. He said that neither the Congress nor Mr Mankotia had any right to seek such a paper, as the Congress party had donated nothing for this fund. He said that these people had no right to ask the government for the white paper on Kargil and its related issues. Prof Dhumal described his government as the ‘government of farmers, orchardists and poor people’. He said that the state government was committed to helping these communities that were the backbone of any society. The Chief Minister announced that augmentation work of the Hamirpur water supply scheme would be completed by 2002. Earlier, he laid the foundation stone of augmentation of Rs 12.50 crore Hamirpur town water supply scheme. He also inaugurated the office of the Superintending Engineer of the HP Irrigation-cum-Public Health (IPH) Department and the girls hostel of a polytechnic at Baru. The function was also addressed by Mr Ramesh Dhwala; I&PH Minister, Mr Ravinder Ravi, the HP Minister of State for Technical Education and Mrs Urmila Thakur, Parliamentary Secretary. |
Law on
rain water harvesting likely SHIMLA, July 11 — The Centre will soon enact a law to make rainwater harvesting system mandatory for
multi-storeyed buildings. It is expected to remove water crisis in urban areas. This was stated by Mr Ashok Pahwa, secretary, Ministry of Urban Development, here yesterday while inaugurating the Himlok parisar which is a central government offices complex at Battsley Longwood. Appreciating the rainwater harvesting system in “Himlok parisar”, Mr Pahwa said such complexes would also be built at other important places. |
One
held, 4 kg of
opium seized SUNDERNAGAR, July 11 — The Aut police has arrested Pardeep Kumar of Nauli Sainj village Kulu district, for possessing 4 kg of opium. According to the police, the accused was nabbed near Aut of Mandi district and the contraband seized. A case has been registered under Section 20 of the Narcotic Drugs and
Psychotropic Substances Act. The accused has been remanded in police custody till July 12.  |
3 brothers injured
in group clash SUNDERNAGAR, July 11—In a group clash in Pargi village under Balh police station, three brothers were attacked by some persons with stones and daggers. The injured have been admitted to the Zonal Hospital, Mandi. The condition of one of the brothers, named Lalit, is stated to be serious. According to the SP, Mandi, Mr O.C.Thakur, the police has registered a case against Khem Chand and his wife Usha, who were arrested yesterday, under Section 307 of the Indian Penal Code. A case has also been registered against the three brothers since persons of the other group were also injured in the incident, he said. |
 |
| Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir | Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs | Nation | Editorial | | Business | Sport | World | Mailbag | In Spotlight | Chandigarh Tribune | Ludhiana Tribune 50 years of Independence | Tercentenary Celebrations | | 120 Years of Trust | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
