Between starvation and bullets
Ban on collecting herbs hits villagers
From Pratibha Chauhan
Tribune News Service

DHARAMSALA KEHAR (Chamba) Aug 12 — They would not mind risking their lives at the hands of the Jammu and Kashmir militants in order to collect valuable medicinal herbs from the dense forests between Chamba and Bhaderwah, as this is the only source of income for the poor residents of the Kehar area.

These people of Kehar and Langera areas have lost the source of income ever since they were restricted from going to the forests in the higher reaches to collect herbs. The government had been compelled to put restrictions on the locals in order to stop them from entering the dense forests in the border areas of Chamba, because of threat from the J and K militants, who often infiltrate into these uninhabited regions.

During the summer months, when these forests located at a height of 10,000 feet are free from snow, the locals go up in groups in search of the herbs. Selling herbs has been a source of income for the people of the area for generations, and the go as far as Doda to collect herbs.

“It is better to risk our lives than die of starvation” remarks Punnu Ram of Juans village in Kehar. He says people have to face hardships in the absence of any other source of livelihood. The police does not allow them to go beyond Langera, where most of the herbs are found.

The local residents, after being issued licences by the Forest Department, collect valuable medicinal herbs like Chamba dhoop, kuth, kaud, patis, salam panga, van mishri, brahmi and kina.

Residents of Bhaswa, Kehar, Duer, Bhandal and Langera villages have been badly affected by this restriction.

“About 600 persons from these villages would go up together to collect herbs and would return after a fortnight with the dried herbs,” says Ati Muhammad of Langera. He said after collecting herbs from the forests throughout the day, the villagers would dry them up in “bhattis” at night and prepare them for sale to the traders.

“The ban on collecting herbs has completely ruined the people and they have been left with no purchasing power”, said Ramesh Kumar a shopkeeper in Juans village. He said some of the parents had even taken out their children from schools as they are unable to pay the fees.

The police and ITBP personnel deployed in the border areas say that they too feel bad at the plight of the locals but maintain that seeing the risk from militants, it is not safe to let the villagers go to the forests”. In fact, four years ago as many as 23 villagers belonging to Kehar were taken hostages by militants and were released only after the payment of ransom.

The government has even banned the gujjars having their “kothas” in the higher reaches from going up, to prevent any local contact for the militants. At times the militants, who use these “kothas” as hideouts get ration and other help from the gujjars. The police even suspected the involvement of some gujjars of Padri Gulli, in the killing of four gaddis at Sappa Chlou in August 1998.

The locals say that in the absence of the possibility of collecting herbs they should be given alternative employment by the government “Even though the traders earn much more profit than us but at least we were able to earn about Rs 5,000 every month”, said the locals.

They said despite the 300 MW Chamera-II Power Project coming up in the area not even a single local person had been given job. “As it is the question of the survival of our families we are willing to go and work as labourers at the power project, but the NHPC authorities are not taking us”, lamented Punnu Ram.

With no PWD work on road repair or other construction, the people of the area are a facing difficulties in making both ends meet.

Finance panel report: HP asks for more
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Aug 12 — Despite a substantial increase in the devolution of funds from the central pool, the much-awaited recommendations of the Eleventh Finance Commission will not end the financial woes of Himachal Pradesh.

As against the total dispensation of Rs 3,700 crore during the period 1995-2000, the period covered by the Tenth Finance Commission, the state will receive Rs 7,400 crore over the next five years. The projections of the last commission had indicated a devolution of Rs 4,700 crore but the actual amount that flowed was Rs 1,000 crore less because of the decline in the share in the central taxes.

The commission has adopted a different approach under which any shortfall in collection of central taxes will be made up with a deficit grant.

The state will get about Rs 650 crore more annually from the current financial year. However, given the dismal financial scenario it will not mean much. Against a monthly outflow of Rs 400 crore the inflow has been a meagre Rs 200 crore. The increased devolution from the Centre will only reduce the annual deficit from Rs 2,400 crore to about Rs 1700 crore which will not be easy to manage.

The state government is unhappy over the fact that the commission took 1998-99 as the base year for making recommendations, which led to the under assessment of its annual liability on account of the payment of pension by Rs 89 crore. The state implemented the report of the Fifty Pay Commission for pensioners only in 1999, as a result the annual liability increased from Rs 281 crore to Rs 370 crore. This could not be taken into account by the commission as it took 1998-99 as the base year.

The state has been made to pay a heavy price for raising loans through boards and corporations in violation of Article 293, without taking permission from the Centre. As these loans did not form part of the government accounts, the commission did not take the interest liability account. Besides, the commission in a bid to discourage borrowings by states included only 80 per cent of the interest component while working out the liability. Consequently, the interest liability of the state was assessed at Rs 593 crore as against the actual burden of Rs 1,093 crore. Besides, the state has banned lottery from 1999 but its income has been included in the states resources.

The state’s policy to regularise daily wage earners has also not been approved by the commission and it has not taken the additional financial burden into consideration on this account. There are about one lakh daily wage earners in the state which costs Rs 550 crore annually.

The state government has decided to take up the matter with the Centre to get the discrepancies removed and the recommendations modified accordingly.

The recommendations will, however, go a long way in ensuring fiscal discipline among states and discourage them from taking populist measures. The report of the commission aimed at encouraging economic reform, to be submitted shortly, will indicate whether or not it goes all out to adopt a policy of incentives and disincentives to accelerate the tardy reform process.

New HP law to deal with encroachments
From Our Correspondent

MANDI, Aug 12 — The Himachal Pradesh Government is going to enact a law under which property built on the encroached government land, including residential houses, commercial establishments, agricultural lands, farms and orchards would be vested in the government. The proposed law, if enacted by the Himachal Pradesh Assembly, would be the first of its kind in the country.

Talking to newspersons here today Revenue Minister Rajan Sushant said for the detection of encroachments all revenue officers from patwari to Deputy Commissioners would be made accountable.

He said unlike the past practice the illegal structures would not be demolished but taken over by the government under the new law. Once the property was found to be built or developed on government land, it would be deemed to be vested in the government.

Mr Sushant said the revenue training would be made mandatory for all IAS and HAS officers in the state.

When asked if it would be possible to implement such law despite most encroachers reportedly being politicians and bureaucrats, he said a beginning would be made by roping in the influential people first.

He said Section 163 of the Land Revenue Act was being suitably amended with the view to facilitating eviction and possession by the government using force wherever necessary.

Mr Sushant said encroachments had assumed alarming proportions in the state where 80 thousand cases of encroachment on government land had been detected so far out of which 30,000 were in Shimla district alone.

Giving the details about the proposed law the minister said the encroachments at panchayat level would be vested in the panchayat and would be its property. The encroachment of one bigha of land would entail a fine of Rs 5000 which would keep on multiplying if the encroachment continued.

He said the revenue process would be simplified. The entire demarcation system would be rationalised, he said.

He said Kisan pass books would be given legal respectability and would be considered as a valid document in the eye of law. He said 12 lakh Kisan pass books would be issued to the farmers during the next three months.

Mules in demand for relief work
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Aug 12 — As trucks are of no use because of destruction of bridges and washing away of large patches of roads, mules, which are being used for transportation of essential supplies to the cut-off areas of Kinnaur, are in great demand.

While the Food and Civil Supplies Department, nodal agency for maintenance of supplies, has worked out a requirement of about 1000 mules only about 500 are available. It has now decided to arrange another 450 mules from other parts of state and Punjab. These additional mules would be pressed into service within a week.

Mr A.K. Goswami, Chief Secretary, while reviewing the progress of relief and restoration measure, said that so far 85 helicopter sorties had been made to airlift 1027 quintals of foodgrains and other essential commodities and 13000 litres of kerosene,

He said that the Public Works Department, after opening the National Highway-22 up to Wangtoo, was making efforts to open Luhri-Bana-Ani Road, which was heavily damaged. He said that 3 km of this road had been restored for light vehicles. He added that 10 ropeways at Khab, Purbani, Shang-Tong, Kadactham, Ramni, Kathal, Karchang, Gharsu, Khaneri and Padoha had been installed and made operational and another 15 ropeways were likely to be completed by August 15.

The Forest Department was directed to explore the possibility of arranging salvage wood for making packing cases for apples as the transportation of cartons and wooden boxes from outside was difficult.

The Additional Director-General of Border Road Organisation, Mr B.L. Tikku, also visited Shimla yesterday and had discussions with Mr Goswami. He assured that men and material resources from other parts of the country would be shifted to ensure early restoration of traffic on the National Highway-22 from Wangtoo to Khab.

Meanwhile, the Kulu Dasehra Festival Committee has contributed Rs 1,01,100 towards the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund for helping the flood affected. A cheque of this amount was presented to the Chief Minister here today by Mr Maheshwar Singh, MP, who is also Chairman of the committee. Mr Thakur Dass Vij of Saharanpur also contributed Rs 1 lakh.

Maneka’s concern saves bear

SHIMLA, Aug 12 (PTI) — Ramu, a domesticated bear owned by juggler Kunwar Mohammad of Sonepat, would have died unsung on the roaside at Dhalli, near here, but for the concern shown by Union Minister of State Maneka Gandhi who not only intervened to save the hapless animal but also made him a VIP, attracting media attention.

Ramu fell ill soon after his master brought him here on August 8 and he refused to move even a inch or take any food. His condition started deteriorating very fast and some local persons informed the Union Minister who immediately rang up the Director of Animal Husbandry. The Director deputed Dr J.C. Panta, Senior Veterinary Doctor, to immediately attend on the dying animal. He rushed to the spot and started the treatment in the rain-shelter.

He gave some injections and intravenous glucose along with antibiotics to the bear who was apparently suffering from ascities caused by exertion, fatigue and malnutrition.

Dr Panta said the bear had symptoms of tosconie and the owner of the bear admitted having administered a heavy dose of deworming drugs.

The bear responded to the treatment and was admitted at the local veterinary hospital on August 9. About 1000 litres of water was drained out from his stomach and he also took two litres of water and two litres of milk and showed some movement.

His condition further improved yesterday and there was no fresh retention of fluids in the stomach. He took 500 gm of honey, 500 gm of gur, one litre of milk and an omelette of four eggs.

A team of specialists from Himachal Agricultural University, Palampur, led by wildlife expert Dr R.S. Kastwaria, Dr B. Pal and Dr Adarsh arrived here this morning and examined the bear. The team observed that right treatment was being given to the bear and suggested some additional medicines to build resistance.

The animal was being given protenix with milk, fluid therapy, steroids and liver tonic and his condition was stable. The bear who was staggering was absolutely normal and was likely to recover fully within the next four or five days, the doctors opined.

The temperature of the bear which had come down to 96.4 degree has risen to normal level at 98.4 degree and he was taking normal food like honey, groundnut, milk and protenix.

As it was a sloth bear and not a Himalayan bear it could not withstand the cold climate and the entire efforts of the doctors would be rendered futile if the bear was sent to the zoo at Palampur as insisted by the Wildlife Department.

The bear has an intimate relationship with his master and his separation would unsettle him emotionally.

The owner of the bear was living with his six-year-old son in the same room where the bear was admitted. He was worried over the move to send the bear to the zoo as he was the sole bread winner for him.

The entire expenses on treatment were being borne by the government and doctors were attending on the sick bear.

Chaba powerhouse to be functional by month-end
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Aug 12 — The Chaba powerhouse, which was closed following extensive damage by flashfloods in the Sutlej, will start generating electricity by the end of this month. This information was given to Mr P.K. Dhumal, Chief Minister, during his visit to the damaged powerhouse by officers of the state power house today.

The Chief Minister said the Chaba powerhouse was one of the oldest and as such the government was keen to maintain it as a heritage unit. He was informed that the damage to the powerhouse had caused a loss of Rs 25 lakh daily. Repair work was being done round the clock so that the generation could start at the earliest.

Mr Dhumal said the Chaba-Shakara bridge which was damaged in floods would be completed by the first week of September. He directed the PWD authorities to explore the possibility of completing it earlier so that the people of the area did not face inconvenience.

Earlier, the Chief Minister visited Tatapani in the Mandi district to review relief and rehabilitation measures. The loss to public and private property due to floods at Tatapani has been estimated at Rs 3 crore.

The Chief Minister distributed relief totalling Rs 2.81 lakh to 44 affected families of the area. A sum of Rs 70,000 has already been given to them by the district administration.

Foreign troupes to enthral tourists
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Aug 12 — Foreign cultural troupes will enthral the tourists and devotees during the Kulu Dasehra festival, to be held from October 8 to 14.

The international folk dance festival will also be held during the event which has been accorded the status of an international fair by the government.

The state-level festival committee which met here today under the chairmanship of Mr P.K. Dhumal, Chief Minister, finalised the arrangements for the biggest fair of the state.

He expressed happiness over the decision of the committee not to seek any financial aid from the government for the festival.

The Chief Minister said that government had decided that all fairs and festivals would be organised by the committees comprising of local representatives of all political parties and voluntary organisations and the government would only maintain law and order.

Mr Maheshwar Singh, MP, who is also chairman of the Kulu Dasehra Festival Committee, welcoming the Chief Minister said that endeavour of the committee would be to make the festival more attractive this year.

It was decided that various government departments would put exhibitions during the Kulu Dasehra festival depicting the progress made in various fields in the state.

The Chief Minister directed the authorities that uninterrupted electricity supply and water supply and proper cleanliness should be ensured during the fair. 

ABVP members gherao principals 
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Aug 12 — Members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad today gheraoed the principals of various degree colleges in the state during its one-day protest against the failure of Himachal Pradesh University to hold elections to the students central association.

In the absence of the Vice-Chancellor and the Pro-Vice-Chancellor, the protestors gheraoed the Dean of Studies, Dr K.C. Sharma, and the Chief Warden, Prof Suresh Kapoor, on the university campus here.

A spokesman of the parishad claimed that most of the principals were in favour of elections and they had even stated this in writing. He said there was no substance in the assertions of Dr S.K. Gupta, Vice-Chancellor, that principals were against holding elections to the students central association. 

‘People aware of Congress gimmicks’
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Aug 12 — The BJP has condemned the attempt of Mr Sat Mahajan, Pradesh Congress Committee chief, to politicise the desecration of Mahatma Gandhi’s statue by miscreants at Hamirpur and use it to malign the BJP.

In a joint statement here today, Mr J.P. Nadda, Mr Roop Singh and Mr R.D. Kashyap, all ministers, took exception to the Congress leaders making a hue and cry on the issue, especially when the Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, had already announced that a new statue of the Father of the Nation would be installed at the same place at the earliest. Mr Dhumal had also directed the administration and the police to apprehend the culprits and take action against them.

Mahatma Gandhi, they said, was a great leader and everybody respected him. The Congress leaders were, however, trying to paint a picture as if Mahatma Gandhi belonged to them only, which was unfortunate, they rued.

It seemed Congress leaders always tried to make issue out of non-issues to gain political mileage but this was not going to cut much ice with the people who were aware of their gimmicks.

Cong threatens ‘jail bharo’ agitation
From Our Correspondent

MANALI, Aug 12 — The district unit of the Congress, Lahaul and Spiti has threatened to launch an agitation and organise a “jail bharo andolan” against the state government in case their demands were not met soon. Stating this in a press note issued here Mr Raghbir Singh Thakur, senior vice-president, Lahaul and Spiti District Congress Committee, alleged that all developmental works in Lahaul and Spiti stood paralysed due to the indifferent attitude of the state government and the district administration. He further said corruption was rampant and Congress workers and sympathisers were being harassed. He sought Rs 400 per bag as support price for potatoes.

HVC leaders : meet oustees’ demands by August 15
Tribune News Service

DHARAMSALA, Aug 12 — The Himachal Vikas Congress leader, Mr S.S. Guleria, has threatened to take ‘‘samadhi’’ if the problem being faced by dam oustees for the past many years were not solved by the government by August 15.

Mr Guleria accused the Congress of ignoring the interests of the oustees. He also submitted a memorandum addressed to the Chief Minister and the Deputy Commissioner, Kangra, listing their problems.

He said the promise made by the government that all affected persons would be given land in Rajasthan had not been fulfilled. He added that the ones who had been given land in the state were facing difficulty as the area was undeveloped.

He also demanded that the oustees be given 25 per cent job reservation in the state and 10 per cent at the centre.