H I M A C H A L   P R A D E S H

HP to introduce tele-medicine
CHAMBA, July 31 — The Himachal Pradesh Government is planning to introduce tele-medicine facility for strengthening the health services in the backward and tough alpine areas of the state, thereby providing medical facilities in the bedroom of the patient.

Where vultures abound
KUMARHATTI: Tourists may find this area a pleasant break for a short period but for the world’s best natural scavenger — vultures — this area, mostly covered with the pine trees, is their permanent habitat.

Virbhadra: Dhumal needs lessons
UNA, July 31 — Former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh virtually kicked off the Congress campaign for the ensuing panchayat elections at a state-level convention of the Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) at the town hall here yesterday.

Excise records burnt in clash, 2 hurt
DHARAMSALA, July 31 — The situation at the Toki excise and taxation barrier near Indora became tense yesterday when some drivers and members of the Damtal Truck Union clashed, leading to the burning of furniture and records at the barrier.

Chintpurni fair begins
UNA, July 31 — The famous Chintpurni Shravan Ashtami fair started today. It will continue till August 9. Lakhs of pilgrims from Punjab, UP, Haryana and Delhi visit this fair.

Workers stage dharnas in HP
SHIMLA, July 31 — Various workers unions affiliated to the CITU (Centre of Indian Trade Unions) today staged dharnas in the main towns of the state to express solidarity with the striking employees of a private textile mill in Baddi.

New Engineer-in-Chief for HP PWD
SHIMLA, July 31 — Mr S.S. Juneja, Chief Executive Officer of the State Housing Board, will be the new Engineer-in-Chief of the State Public Works Department.

HP to introduce tele-medicine
From Our Correspondent

CHAMBA, July 31 — The Himachal Pradesh Government is planning to introduce tele-medicine facility for strengthening the health services in the backward and tough alpine areas of the state, thereby providing medical facilities in the bedroom of the patient.

Disclosing this at a news conference here today, the Himachal Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, said considering the fact that there was an acute shortage of doctors in the state the Himachal Government was making sincere endeavours to produce more doctors through its medical colleges and according recognition to the private medical colleges in the state.

Mr Dhumal said keeping in mind that the next decade would be an era of biotechnology the state government was the first to set up Biotechnology Department in the state and added that a task force had been constituted to draw a comprehensive plan for bringing a revolution in this field.

Mr Dhumal said Himachal Pradesh was a viable state for the development of biotechnology which would bring prosperity in the state as hydro-generation was bringing prosperity all over the state.

The Chief Minister informed that the state government was going to introduce information technology in about 100 government senior secondary schools during the current fiscal year, adding that computer education would be introduced in almost all senior secondary schools of the state by the next year. Within three to four years, computer education would be implemented in classes IX and X of all high schools in the state, Mr Dhumal said.

He said that regarding information technology advancement the Himachal Government had signed a memorandum of understanding with a private foreign enterprise to whom the state government had agreed to provide land for this purpose. He said the classes in information technology would start next year. Likewise, the state government had also invited desirous private enterprises to set up their IT units in the state.

Mr Dhumal said Himachal would be a model state with the implementation of Saraswati Bal Vidya Sankalp Yojna for which National Bank of Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) had agreed to advance loans. He said the state government had given top priority to roads, health and education.

HP to consider giving projects to NHPC
From Our Correspondent

CHAMBA, July 31 — The Himachal Pradesh Government will consider the assigning of the construction work on the two hydroelectric projects, 231 MW Hibra and 260 MW Kuther projects, on the Ravi in Chamba district to the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC). This was stated by Prof Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister, during his visit to the ongoing 300-MW Chamera hydroelectric project (stage-II) on the Ravi today.

Prof Dhumal during his visit inspected the progress on the construction work of the Chamera hydroelectric project and expressed his satisfaction over the work, which was ahead of schedule. The project would cost about Rs 1,700 crore.

Mr S.K. Dodeja, Executive Director, region-II, of the NHPC stated that the tunnelling work on the different fronts of the project was started on October 16, last year and till now the diversion tunnel had been dug up and the work of concrete lining was in full swing.

Mr Dodeja further stated that the work of the head-race tunnel was under progress from the inlet adit, adit-I and adit-II.

He said the construction work on the main access tunnel to the power house was going on a war-footing.

Mr Dodeja stated that the execution of the Chemera project (stage-II) was being carried out by a private enterprise, Jai Prakash Industries, which assured Prof Dhumal of completing the project by December, 2003, six months before the fixed date. He said a catchment area treatment (CAT) plan around the Chamera project had already been approved by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests at an estimated cost of Rs 10.73 crore to be released by the Himachal Pradesh Forest Department.

Where vultures abound
From Jagmeet Singh

KUMARHATTI: Tourists may find this area a pleasant break for a short period but for the world’s best natural scavenger — vultures — this area, mostly covered with the pine trees, is their permanent habitat.

Dagshai, Sultanpur and the nearby forests belie the apprehension of the Wild Life Department and Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) that it is on the verge of extinction in the past decade. The disappearance of vultures’ from these areas where these used to be in the thousands had led to BNHS to sound a nationwide “vulture alert”. However, despite the alert, residents in the vicinity of this township are unaware of the vulture’s disappearance from the skies. For them vultures are not a matter of curiosity. They are used to seeing them in abundance whenever an animal dies.

According to the villagers, these giant birds descend whenever they see a dead animal. The villagers did not show interest when this correspondent told them that the Wild Life Department had a suitable prize for any one who could provide information about them.

Daghshai dairy farm, 3 km from here, where dead bodies of animals are brought to do post-mortem before the last rites is often flooded with vultures. The hovering of countless vultures over the dairy farm may generate curiosity among wildlife officials and conservationists but holds little interest for residents.

“We feel irked by these white-backed birds who are a big hurdle in skinning dead animals at the farm, says Mr Kahan Chand, a professional skinner at the farm from nearby Gandhi Gram village. The unprecedented flow of vultures makes it impossible to do work peacefully, laments Mr Kahan Chand.

Mr Kuldeep Singh, a state CPM Secretariat member, asserted that this area seemed to be a haven for vultures. He was surprised why the Punjab Wildlife Department had been clamouring about the disappearance of the vultures when this area has had a large number of vultures. He questioned the motive behind the hullabaloo over the disappearance of bird by the Wildlife Department.

Mr Kuldeep Singh, who is also a General Secretary of Himachal State Kisan Sabha, said he had seen colonies of vultures in this area.

“If you want to see the vultures in thousands come to our village which has witnessed heavy floods of the giant-sized bird in the past months”, said Mr Munni Lal, a signal man at the local railway station, and state-level champion in the wrestling from nearby Sultanpur village.

Meanwhile, the Wildlife Department expressed its unawareness about the presence of vultures in this area when contacted. A senior official in charge of this area said that he has never seen vultures in this area. 

Excise records burnt in clash, 2 hurt
Tribune News Service

DHARAMSALA, July 31 — The situation at the Toki excise and taxation barrier near Indora became tense yesterday when some drivers and members of the Damtal Truck Union clashed, leading to the burning of furniture and records at the barrier.

The district police chief, Mr Prithvi Raj, said the problem started when an altercation took place between members of the union and two drivers Kulwant Singh and Muhammad Khan at the barrier. The two drivers were beaten up by those present there and had to be admitted to the Civil Hospital, Indora.

The situation became tense when the truck drivers, accompanied by locals, reached the barrier on hearing the rumour that one of the drivers had died due to injuries. The mob broke the furniture and burnt all records at the barrier office. The incident, which took place at about 8 p.m., also led to the blocking of traffic by the mob.

Timely intervention by the police brought the situation under control.

A case has been registered against some members of the union under various Sections of the IPC.

Another case has also been registered against those who burnt the excise record at Toki.

Mr Raj said the situation was completely under control. Two drivers Kuldeep Singh and Fazal Deen had been arrested and their trucks seized.

Virbhadra: Dhumal needs lessons
From Our Correspondent

UNA, July 31 — Former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh virtually kicked off the Congress campaign for the ensuing panchayat elections at a state-level convention of the Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) at the town hall here yesterday. He said the Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, who had been comparing the “so-called development” of the state during the past two years with the total development in the state since Independence, needed to learn some lessons.

Mr Virbhadra Singh said there was a 21,600-km road network in the state as against 300 km that existed in 1948, 14,000 schools as compared to 250, 4,500 health institutions as against 91 and 80 per cent literacy rate as compared to 8 per cent then. He added that all 16,916 villages in the state had electricity and drinking water had reached the remotest hamlets. All this, he said, had been possible with the efforts and planning of the previous governments.

He said thousands of state government employees had been transferred by the BJP-HVC government to the remote corners of the state on political considerations. He said corruption was rampant in almost all departments and the Chief Minister had made no efforts to check this.

He said a list of the charges of omissions and commissions against state BJP leaders was being prepared by a committee headed by former Assembly Speaker Kaul Singh and would be made public before the commencement of the monsoon session of the Vidhan Sabha.

He said Mr Dhumal seemed in a hurry to lay foundation stones all over the state without having the resources to complete the projects. He added that the state government had procured loans worth Rs 1,500 crore, while another Rs 1,000-crore loan was in the pipeline. He alleged that the government had mortgaged the first five years of free electricity from the yet-to-be completed 1500 MW Nathpa Jhakri Power Project to secure more loans.

Former ministers Kuldip Kumar and Vikram Katoch, a former MP, Maj-Gen Vikram Singh, Mr Virender Gautam, MLA, and state INTUC president Kanta Sood also spoke on the occasion.

Dalai Lama to visit Mandi today
From Our Correspondent

KULU, July 31 — The Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibet, will visit Kulu and Manali on his way to the historic Key monastery at Tabo in the Spiti valley of Himachal Pradesh, on August 1. Kulu, Manali and the other towns en route have been decorated and welcome gates erected to give a warm welcome to the leader.

The Dalai Lama will halt for a day at Manali and then leave for Kaza the subdivision headquarters of Lahaul and Spiti district, from where he will go on to Key monastery for the Kaalchakra ceremony.

Hashish worth 9 cr seized
From Our Correspondent

MANDI, July 31 — The Banjar police seized 62 kg of hashish in a joint operation conducted yesterday by the Kulu police and the Narcotic Control Bureau, Chandigarh, at Faryari Mor in the Banjar valley when the contraband was being carried in a Maruti van.

Khub Ram of Gali Gacha village and Ram Singh of Tung village have been arrested and the van has been impounded. The DIG, Central Range, Mr Somesh Goyal, said Khub Ram was the panchyat pradhan of Mashiar village. He said the international value of the hashish seized was Rs 9 crore.

Chintpurni fair begins
From Our Correspondent

UNA, July 31 — The famous Chintpurni Shravan Ashtami fair started today. It will continue till August 9. Lakhs of pilgrims from Punjab, UP, Haryana and Delhi visit this fair.

Mr K.K. Pant, Deputy Commissioner, told this correspondent that to maintain smooth flow of traffic the administration had allowed Hoshiarpur traffic only up to Bharwai and traffic from Talwara side only up to Shitla Mata Mandir. He said Section 144 of the CrPC had been imposed all over Una district and carrying of firearms and ammunition had been banned during the mela period.

The Deputy Commissioner said that except the mandir committee no one would be allowed the use of loudspeakers in Chintpurni area. 

Workers stage dharnas in HP
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, July 31 — Various workers unions affiliated to the CITU (Centre of Indian Trade Unions) today staged dharnas in the main towns of the state to express solidarity with the striking employees of a private textile mill in Baddi.

According to information, protest dharnas were held at Parwanoo, Paonta Sahib, Kulu, Bhabhanagar, Chamba and Mandi. The protesters demanded immediate release of workers detained by the management of the mill.

They are also opposing the decision of the government to dismantle the public sector undertakings and convert district hospitals into societies.

New Engineer-in-Chief for HP PWD
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, July 31 — Mr S.S. Juneja, Chief Executive Officer of the State Housing Board, will be the new Engineer-in-Chief of the State Public Works Department.

He replaces Mr R.K. Sharma who retired today. Mr U.N. Sharma Superintending Engineer, Palampur circle, has been promoted and posted as Chief Engineer, North Zone, Dharamsala vice Mr Harbans Kumar who goes as Chief Engineer, Central Zone, Mandi vice Mr P.C. Shandilya who has been posted as Chief Engineer, South Zone, Shimla.