H I M A C H A L   P R A D E S H

Twenty-year wait for bridge
JAWALAMUKHI: Thousands of residents of about two dozen villages including Ghalour, Kathog, Rainkha, Kaleshwar, Balardu, Darang, Gallian, Garli and Paragpur, near here, have been facing hardship due to the apathy being shown by the state government and the local administration in the construction of a bridge on a tributary of the Beas.

Project to sterilise monkeys given up
SHIMLA, Oct 19 — The project for sterilising monkeys, whose population has spurt here, has been abandoned by the authorities under pressure from certain religious groups.

‘Better ties with China not at Tibet’s cost’
SHIMLA, Oct 19 — The Bharat Tibet Sahyog Manch has urged the Centre to reorient its foreign policy and ensure that ties with China were not improved at the cost of Tibet. It has also underlined the need for involving Tibet as third party in any future talks with China for a permanent solution to the vexed issue.

Accept trifurcation, Indresh tells CM
SHIMLA, Oct 19 — Mr Indresh, a senior leader of the RSS and in charge, Jammu and Kashmir security affairs, today said Mr Farooq Abdullah, Chief Minister, should prove his nationalist credentials by responding to the demand of the people of Jammu and Ladakh for separate states.

OBCs to have quota in panchayat poll: CM
HAMIRPUR, Oct 19 — People from Other Backward Castes will get reservation for contesting the ensuing gram panchayat elections. A decision to this effect has been taken by the Himachal Pradesh Government as per the latest report received from the Minority Commission regarding the projected population of these communities.

Efficient PDS top priority: Shanta
JAWALAMUKHI, Oct 19 — The Union Minister for Public Distribution System and Consumer affairs, Mr Shanta Kumar, today made it clear that the main priority of his ministry was to strengthen the public distribution system.

Structures mar town’s charm
CHOWARI (Chamba): Shabby structures and haphazard constructions fast springing up in and around this township in Chamba district, have not only spoiled the town’s charm but also drawn flak.

Project to conserve herbs
CHAMBA: The demand for herbal medicines has increased tremendously in the past few years thereby putting great pressure on the natural resources available in the hill regions. As a sequel to this, over-exploitation of the resources has caused a threat to the survival of medicinal herbs.

Clear job backlog, say SC workers
CHAMBA, Oct 19 — The Himachal Pradesh Scheduled Castes Welfare Association has urged the government to fill the backlog in government jobs in the state forthwith.

Get jobs in pvt sector, Sukh Ram tells youth
MANDI, Oct 19 — HVC supremo Sukh Ram has decried the tendency among the youth to aspire for government jobs. He said that no country in the world could solve the unemployment problem by offering government jobs.

IAF rallyists hoist flag at Rohtang
KULU, Oct 19 — Members of the Indian Air Force cycle rally ‘Sagar Se Himalaya’ reached its final destination here. They hoisted the national flag and the air force flag at the Rohtang pass on October 17.

Bonus on Central pattern sought
SHIMLA, Oct 19 — The Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Employees Union has expressed resentment over the failure of the board management to grant bonus to the C and D group employees on the pattern of the Central Government.

Project to sterilise monkeys given up
From S.P. Sharma
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Oct 19 — The project for sterilising monkeys, whose population has spurt here, has been abandoned by the authorities under pressure from certain religious groups.

The authorities had earlier sought the help of scientists of Agriculture University, Palampur, for developing oral medicine for sterilising the monkeys. However, they have now been asked not to go ahead with the project.

When contacted on the telephone, Dr B.S.Katoch, Head of the Veterinary Science Department in the university, said the process of developing the medicine had been halted on instructions of the authorities.

The Deputy Commissioner, Shimla, had summoned the scientists last year and assigned the project to them.

The committee set up for suggesting steps for curbing further growth in their population met only once.

The DFO, Wildlife, Mr Lalit Mohan, said permission was given to the scientists to catch 15 monkeys for research.

He said the power to grant permission for killing monkeys, which was earlier vested in the DFO, had now been delegated to the rangers.

With people offering cooked food and bread to the monkeys, their eating habits have changed and they prefer the town to the jungles.

However, monkeys have become a nuisance here and many tourists and schoolchildren have been victims of their attacks. The monkeys in Shimla were never as violent as they are now. They take the passersby unawares and bite them even on The Mall where they move in groups.

The garbage bins placed at various places by the Shimla Municipal Corporation are a temptation to the monkeys and they scatter filth all around.

‘Better ties with China not at Tibet’s cost’
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Oct 19 — The Bharat Tibet Sahyog Manch has urged the Centre to reorient its foreign policy and ensure that ties with China were not improved at the cost of Tibet. It has also underlined the need for involving Tibet as third party in any future talks with China for a permanent solution to the vexed issue.

A resolution passed at the conference organised by the manch in connection with the ‘Tibet Mukti Pakhwara’, here today, the Government of India to pursue vigorously the Tibetan issue at various international fora and take all possible steps to mount pressure to stop the flagrant violation of human rights by Chinese in Tibet.

In his presidential address Dr S.K. Gupta, Vice-Chancellor of the Himachal Pradesh University, said that the foreign policy of the country should focus on the independence of Tibet with which it had ideologically, culturally, politically very close ties for centuries. Given its geographically strategic location, only an independence Tibet could provide a buffer state to check the expansionist tendencies of China.

India had been opposed to colonialism and traditionally respected human rights as such it had every reason to pursue the cause of Tibet and ensure that the hapless Tibetans were liberated from the repressive alien rule.

Mr Indresh, Chief patron of the Manch, said that the Indian Parliament had passed a unanimous resolution to liberate every inch of territory occupied by the Chinese but with the passage of time the spirit of the resolution had all but completely died. In fact, there had been efforts to improve ties with China bypassing the main issue of vacation of Indian territory.

Mr Karma Chhoffel, a member of Tibetan Parliament-in-exile, said that the policy of Tibet to live in isolation was a blunder which enabled China to over-run the country. He said that historical and cultural ties between Tibet and India were so strong that the former had the right to urge the latter to work for its cause.

Dr Kuldeep Agnihotari, Convener of the Manch said there was no Chinese invasion until 1962 only because there was no Sino-Indian border. It was only after 1959 when China occupied Tibet that Indian frontiers were exposed.

The Pakhwara being observed by the Manch will conclude tomorrow.

Accept trifurcation, Indresh tells CM
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Oct 19 — Mr Indresh, a senior leader of the RSS and in charge, Jammu and Kashmir security affairs, today said Mr Farooq Abdullah, Chief Minister, should prove his nationalist credentials by responding to the demand of the people of Jammu and Ladakh for separate states.

Talking to mediapersons here, he said the demand for trifurcation of the state was not communal and was justified in view of the geographical and cultural factors and the growing imbalance in development. He said Mr Abdullah, who had pushed through the autonomy resolution in the Assembly, should bring a bill for the reorganisation of Jammu and Kashmir to carve out independent states of Jammu and Ladakh without any delay if he was sincere about the uplift of the people of these regions.

He said trifurcation of the state would help defeat the nefarious designs of Pakistan’s ISI which was systematically working to alter the demographic composition of Ladakh and Jammu by settling Muslims from outside at strategic places.

Besides, it would help reduce the area of operation of the militants and enable the government to focus its attention on the anti-insurgency drive in the Kashmir valley.

The RSS leader said the Centre was doing its best in curbing militancy in the valley but it was not getting the desired cooperation from the state government. He said to completely stamp out Pakistan-sponsored terrorism from the state, the government should destroy 122 training camps being run by the ISI in occupied Kashmir, Pakistan and Afghanistan. Thousands of mercenaries were being trained by Pakistani Army officers at these camps and pushed into Kashmir every year.

India should adopt a tit-for-tat policy and provide support to freedom movements in Sind, Balauchistan, Gilgit and Pakhtoonistan, he suggested.

OBCs to have quota in panchayat poll: CM
From Our Correspondent

HAMIRPUR, Oct 19 — People from Other Backward Castes (OBCs) will get reservation for contesting the ensuing gram panchayat elections. A decision to this effect has been taken by the Himachal Pradesh Government as per the latest report received from the Minority Commission regarding the projected population of these communities.

Prof Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister, said this, while addressing a public meeting at Tounidevi in Hamirpur district today. He said that the deputy commissioners of various districts would issue notifications to this effect on their own so that the reservation of wards for these communities could also be made while finalising the lists of wards of all gram panchayats of the state.

The Chief Minister said that the state government was for providing justice to all communities and this decision of the government was to help the OBCs to stand on their feet.

Earlier, the Chief Minister inaugurated the newly constructed building of the fruit processing plant at Tounidevi as well as the dental unit of the primary health at Tounidevi.

He also opened a new block headquarter at Tounidevi from today. He said that with the opening of this block the pace of progress in the area would be speeded up.

Professor Dhumal asked the people to popularise horticulture in their areas and thus earn more money in shape of any cash crop. He said that the state government would provide all sort of help to the people for setting up of horticulture-based industries. The Department of Horticulture would also provide farmers with various types of fruit plants.

He also hinted at the opening of the new office of the IR Battalion near Jangelberi in Hamirpur district. The recruitment of the jawans for the battalion would start soon, the Chief Minister added.

Earlier, local people accorded a warm welcome to the Chief Minister when he reached Tounidevi from Khari.

Earlier, he said that the state government was according priority to construction of more roads in the state. The government was committed for linking all villages of the state with kutcha or pucca roads, he added.

Addressing a rural gathering after dedicating many projects to people at Khairi village in the Bamsan Assembly segment of the district today, the Chief Minister said that the district had the distinction of highest density of roads in country.

He said that the state government would give priority to development of the villages as 95 per cent of people of the state lived in villages.

The Chief Minister said that road links were getting priority in the state. The government had got four national highways sanctioned for the state and two of them would pass through Hamirpur district. He said that the state government had asked permission from the Central Government for construction of all four national highways with the cement instead of the bituman. He said that state had no dearth of cement and moreover the cemented roads would be less expensive but more durable.

Prof Dhumal claimed that the government had given more powers to the gram panchayats for their development. In future, most of the developmental works would be undertaken by the gram panchayats concerned in consultation with their gram sabhas. This, he said, would be beneficial for the government and the people both. He said that by electing honest persons as their gram panchayat representatives, people would be able to serve their areas better.

The Chief Minister blasted Congress leaders for levelling charges of misutilisation of funds. He alleged that it was the Congress culture to loot the public money with both hands. The main aim of the BJP government in the state as well as at the Centre was to help the people to give priority to equal development all over the country.

Earlier, the Chief Minister laid foundation stone of a bridge over Papled khad, inaugurated additional accommodation for the Government Middle School, Khairi and a health sub centre at Khairi and also dedicated to the public, the Bajahar-Sachuhl road.

Efficient PDS top priority: Shanta
From Our Correspondent

JAWALAMUKHI, Oct 19 — The Union Minister for Public Distribution System and Consumer affairs, Mr Shanta Kumar, today made it clear that the main priority of his ministry was to strengthen the public distribution system (PDS).

He said there was some deficiencies in the operation of the system. The government gave a subsidy of around Rs 10,000 crore on the PDS but unfortunately more than 3.5 per cent of ration supplied was diverted. It had been disclosed by a survey conducted by Tata Consultancy Service, he added.

While talking to mediapersons here he said the department proposed to involve local elected representative of panchayat and evolve some kind of a social audit of the public distribution system. The minister said the department needed only quality goods reached the ration shops. Due to political pressure and other considerations, procuring agencies in the past had been relaxing the laid down specifications on rice and wheat. The minister ensured there would be compromise on quality. 

Mr Shanta Kumar said he would find out ways to reduce the handling costs of grains by procuring agencies like the food corporation of India. The transport and handling losses were very heavy and worked out to as much as 50 per cent of the minimum support price.

Mr Shanta Kumar announced that the storage had been granted infrastructure development status under the new policy. Now funding would be available to the private sector to construct godowns at predecided places for the FCI and other government agencies. A godown of storage capacity of 3,000 tonne foodgrain would be constructed at Dehra Gopipur of Kangra district for the Food Corporation of India in near future.

Structures mar town’s charm
From Balkrishan Prashar

CHOWARI (Chamba): Shabby structures and haphazard constructions fast springing up in and around this township in Chamba district, have not only spoiled the town’s charm but also drawn flak.

These conditions can perhaps be attributed either to the lack of political will or the laxity of the local administration. There is an urgent need of extending the Himachal Pradesh Town and Country Planning Act to this township to curb unwarranted developments, improving the town’s looks.

The alleys are becoming narrow and congested and the access to the main plaza has been blocked at many points through illegal encroachments, which obstruct movement towards the bus stand.

The indiscriminate and thoughtless construction work without leaving any space around the buildings is the biggest drawback which at times becomes hazardous. These ugly structures, right under the administration’s nose, are also spoiling the landscape. Nothing has so far been done in the name of planning in this underdeveloped township.

Situated on the foothills of the Dhauladhar, Chowari township is a subdivisional headquarter with a population of about 5,000, about 50 km from the district headquarters of Chamba.

Since Bhattiyat is a newly-created subdivision with its headquarters at Chowari township, private constructions as well as government housing works are being speeded up in the township.

The offices of certain government departments are housed in private rented buildings. Even government staff of certain departments do not have residential accommodation.

The residents have demanded the construction of public toilets at key spot in the township. They have also demanded a sewer system. The local bus stand also needs to be metalled.

Official information, however, reveals that the local Nagar Panchayat has proposed some development works including installation of more street lights.

Meanwhile, when contacted, Mr J.S. Rana, Subdivisional Magistrate, Chowari, feels that the provisions of the H.P. Town and Country Planning Act should be extended to this township and Chowari township should be designated as “a special area” under the Act to curb unruly and unauthorised constructions as well as encroachments. The Act would enable the authorities to bring the defaulters to book and deal with them drastically as required under the law.

Project to conserve herbs
From Balkrishan Prashar

CHAMBA: The demand for herbal medicines has increased tremendously in the past few years thereby putting great pressure on the natural resources available in the hill regions. As a sequel to this, over-exploitation of the resources has caused a threat to the survival of medicinal herbs. That is why more than 40 species of medicinal plants in Himachal Pradesh have been declared endangered.

A few years back plants like podophyllum, aconitum, rheum picrorhiza, taxus, etc. were easily available in the natural habitat of Himachal Pradesh. Now these are diminishing rapidly due to reckless extraction to meet the growing demand of the pharmaceutical industry. These herbs grow in the temperate forests of the state and are in great demand for curing diseases like cancer.

Official information reveals that out of 3,000 flowering plant species, more than 500 are found to have medicinal properties. But extraction and trade in herbs is in the hands of those who are unaware of their importance. For the sake of short-term gain they do not even hesitate to adopt crude methods to extract these herbs. Consequently, many of the species are being depleted from their natural abode and their availability decreasing.

Since the government is very serious about the problem and aware of the systematic and scientific exploitation of the natural resources including herbal wealth, keeping these intact for the benefit of posterity, a Rs 8.27 crore project called “vanaspati van” has recently been started in Chamba and Kulu districts by the Union Ministry of Health and Ayurveda for the development and conservation of medicinal plants.

Considering that Chamba district is a district richly endowed with medicinal plants, the Masrund-Mani-Jhalara-Sagnahar zone has been identified to be developed as a “vanaspati van”. With the initiative taken by the Ayurveda Department in close coordination with the Forest Department and herbal experts, various training programmes and workshops are being organised to impart training about cultivation and to generate awareness of the utility of medicinal herbs.

The vanaspati van project has started moving ahead steadily by raising nurseries of certain species of medicinal plants in the hilly ranges of Sagnahar zone (see photo) of Chamba district. 

Clear job backlog, say SC workers
From Our Correspondent

CHAMBA, Oct 19 — The Himachal Pradesh Scheduled Castes Welfare Association has urged the government to fill the backlog in government jobs in the state forthwith.

In a memorandum to the Secretary, Scheduled Castes and Tribes Commission, Government of India, submitted by the Chamba unit of the association and the local Dr B.R. Ambedkar Mission Society here yesterday, it was demanded that a provision of reservation be made in jobs in the private enterprises and companies for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes candidates.

Mr Vijay Kumar, secretary, of the local unit of the association, said they had also demanded implementation of the decisions taken on the occasion of B.R. Ambedkar’s birth centenary celebrations in 1991.

He said the decisions included the installation of Ambedkar’s statue at Chamba and naming the local stadium and the road from the stadium to the main market after him.

Get jobs in pvt sector, Sukh Ram tells youth
From Our Correspondent

MANDI, Oct 19 — HVC supremo Sukh Ram has decried the tendency among the youth to aspire for government jobs. He said that no country in the world could solve the unemployment problem by offering government jobs.

Addressing a two-day youth festival of music at the Post Graduate Government College stadium here today he advised the youth to avail of self-employment opportunities in the private sector. There was a demand for enterprising youths in different spheres outside the government or public sector. The talented youths had better future in the private sector jobs where performance was valued unlike in government jobs, he added.

Mr Sukh Ram expressed distress over the denuding forest wealth of the state. The green valleys of the state were fast becoming grey and were on the verge of turning into a desert. Kulu, Balh and Paunta areas were rapidly losing their green glamour, he added.

He said that there had been expansion in the sphere of education in the state which had emerged second only to Kerala in high literacy percentage, but he stressed upon the need of upgrading the quality in order to keep pace with the fast changing global technology.

Notwithstanding expansion, Himachal had yet to provide good buildings for its schools, play grounds and required number of teachers, he added.

Mr Sukh Ram claimed it was not difficult to solve the problem of unemployment in Himachal where the number of the educated unemployed was less than nine lakh. Jobs could be generated for them in the private sector and large majority of them could be absorbed in self-employment ventures, he claimed.

Earlier, he inaugurated the youth festival.

IAF rallyists hoist flag at Rohtang
From Our Correspondent

KULU, Oct 19 — Members of the Indian Air Force cycle rally ‘Sagar Se Himalaya’ reached its final destination here. They hoisted the national flag and the air force flag at the Rohtang pass on October 17.

The rally started from Air Force Station, Naliya (Gujarat), on September 23. It covered about 2000 km in 25 days.

Under the leadership of Group Captain P.S. Bhangu, AVSM, the team consists of two officers and six airmen — Flt Lieut G.D. Dabral, Flying Officer Nishant Gupta, Sgt M. Bahuguna, LAC V.K. Singh, LAC T.S. Bora, LAC A.K. Pandey, LAC S.K. Bansal and LAC P. Sehrawat. The purpose of the rally was to spread message of national integrity, peace, harmony and brotherhood. The rally had covered Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh.

The team was welcomed by cadets of HP (Air wing) NCC unit, here.

Mr S.R. Thakur, Additional Deputy Commissioner, honoured the participants with Kulu caps and mufflers. The Subdivisional Magistrate, Chairman, Municipal Council, Principal of the Government Post Graduate College and others were also present at the occasion.

Bonus on Central pattern sought
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Oct 19 — The Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Employees Union has expressed resentment over the failure of the board management to grant bonus to the C and D group employees on the pattern of the Central Government.

Mr L.R. Thakur, president of the union, said the board had been following the pattern of the Centre in the matter of bonus and it had given this benefit to all ‘C’ and ‘D’ group employees irrespective of the emoluments being drawn by them for 1996-97. However, for 1997-98, it deviated from the Central pattern and paid bonus to only those whose emoluments did not exceed Rs 3,500 a month.