H I M A C H A L   P R A D E S H

Vigil along Chamba border stepped up
CHAMBA, Dec 27 — The security forces have stepped up patrolling and surveillance on the borders of Chamba district in Himachal Pradesh adjoining Jammu and Kashmir in the wake of the recent Red Fort shooting incident.

Fires destroy forest wealth worth crores
KULU, Dec 27 — Forest wealth worth crores was burnt during the past week in Kulu and Parvati forest divisions in this district. None of the forest fires have been extinguished so far, said an environmentalist.

Shahpur residents seek college in martyr’s memory
DHARAMSALA, Dec 27 — Residents of the Shahpur area, today submitted a memorandum, addressed to the Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal, to the Deputy Commissioner, Mr R.C. Kapil, demanding the opening of a government college in the area.

HP to stop mining activity on forest land
SHIMLA, Dec 27 — The Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, today announced that mining activity on forest land throughout Himachal Pradesh would be stopped forthwith to prevent the degradation of environment and ecology.

Speaker releases two books
SHIMLA, Dec 27 — The historic Council Chamber, which houses the Himachal Vidhan Sabha, has been a witness to many epoch-making events during its 75 years of existence.

Ban ‘export’ of medicinal plants
SHIMLA, Dec 27 — A total ban on the export of medicinal plants in crude form and a cut in the proportion of delicious varieties of apple has been recommended by a national seminar on Himalayan horticulture.

Hamirpur dist may face drought
HAMIRPUR, Dec 27 — A drought-like situation prevails in the district, due to no rain during the past four months. If the situation persists, the district may face a major drought in 2001.

Dinner meeting creates ripples
SHIMLA, Dec 27 — Last night’s dinner meeting of six ministers and legislators of the Shanta Kumar faction, who had recently withdrawn support to the Chief Minister, Mr P.K.Dhumal, has created ripples in the ruling BJP circles here.

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Vigil along Chamba border stepped up
From Our Correspondent

CHAMBA, Dec 27 — The security forces have stepped up patrolling and surveillance on the borders of Chamba district in Himachal Pradesh adjoining Jammu and Kashmir in the wake of the recent Red Fort shooting incident.

After touring and analysing the situation in the Tissa sector of the district on the border of Doda district in Jammu and Kashmir, Mr Sanjay Kundu, district police chief, said here today that with the pressure mounting over the ultras from across the borders, the security forces had intensified its operations on the borderland.

Mr Kundu stated that the jawans of the second and third battalions of Himachal Armed Police (HAP) had been keeping strict vigil on the borders through its 27 check-posts set up on the borderline in close coordination with the nine check-posts being handled by the jawans of Indo-Tibet Border Police (ITBP).

The police chief said utmost care was being taken through improved communication network to be in constant touch with the authorities of security forces already deployed on the Jammu and Kashmir.

The police chief stated that despite the weather the forces were keeping an eye on the strangers and allowing entry from across the border into the district only after proper verification.

He said the security forces equipped with night vision devices, sophisticated weaponry, explosives and modern telecommunication system were continuing its anti-insurgency operations in the light of the new strategy adopted during the winter.

The police chief said to assist the security forces and to build confidence among the local people, the village defence committees had shown good results. 

Fires destroy forest wealth worth crores
From Our Correspondent

KULU, Dec 27 — Forest wealth worth crores was burnt during the past week in Kulu and Parvati forest divisions in this district. None of the forest fires have been extinguished so far, said an environmentalist.

The forests of Bodsu, Peej and Kais III in Kulu division and Mohal, Jari and Gadsa valley in the Parvati forest division have been on fire.

The Meteorological Department of Bhuntar Airport has given minimum visibility at Bhuntar as 1.5 km due to the smoke. All flights of Indian Airlines, Jagson Airlines and the Trans-Bharat Aviation here cancelled due to poor visibility for the fifth day today.

A conservator of Forests said villagers would often start a fire to have better grass. He said there was no forest fire.

Contrary to the statement of the Conservator, the Divisional Forest Officer confirmed that the jungles of Bodsu, Peej and Kais III were on fire but these were ‘ground’ fires.

Official sources of the Parvati forest division confirmed that fires were reported from Mohal, Manikaran valley and Gasda valley forests. They said the DFO had gone to assess the losses.

Tourists who were here to celebrate Christmas and the New Year eve were disappointed due to the dry weather and the smoke.

Mr Bhupinder Singh, Station Manager, Trans-Bharat Aviation, said the failure of the Forest Department to control the forest fires in this district had not only affected the airlines but also the tourism sector. He said peoples’ participation should be sought to control the forest fires.

Ms Maninder Rathore, Station Manager, Jagson Airlines, said the cancellation of flights due to poor visibility had become a routine affair every year.

Shahpur residents seek college in martyr’s memory
Tribune News Service

DHARAMSALA, Dec 27 — Residents of the Shahpur area, today submitted a memorandum, addressed to the Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal, to the Deputy Commissioner, Mr R.C. Kapil, demanding the opening of a government college in the area.

The residents who have constituted an action committee, to pursue the matter with the government, said it was long pending genuine demand of the people. Justifying the demand for a college they said it would not only cater to the needs of the Shahpur and Bahttiyat Assembly segments but also a large portion of the remote Kandi and Changer area would be covered.

Demanding the opening of the college in the memory Col Rajender Singh Chauhan, a martyr, they said people had already provided land for the construction of the college. Colonel Chauhan of the 21 Rashtriya Rifles had laid down his life fighting militants in the Kupwara sector of Jammu and Kashmir on August 21, this year. They added that the setting up of the college in the native village of Colonel Chauhan, would be a true tribute to the valiant officer.

The residents said as the colleges were located in Kangra and Dharamsala, a number of students could not afford college education. Moreover, transportation too was major problem.

HP to stop mining activity on forest land
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Dec 27 — The Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, today announced that mining activity on forest land throughout Himachal Pradesh would be stopped forthwith to prevent the degradation of environment and ecology.

The Chief Minister made the announcement in the Vidhan Sabha while replying to a question of Mr Harsh Mahajan (Congress).

Congress members, including Mr Virbhadra Singh, Mr J.B.L. Khachi and Mr Mahajan, pointed out that mining was being allowed in the forest areas in violation of the orders of the Supreme Court which had banned such activity.

Replying to the question, the Industries Minister, Mr Kishori Lal, said mining activity was going on in forest land at 32 places.

The minister said the Supreme Court had banned all non-forest activities on forest lands without the prior approval of the Centre which had been received only in nine cases.

The Forest Minister, Mr Roop Singh, said he had ordered the authorities to register police cases against those who were indulging in mining in the forest areas.

The Speaker, Thakur Gulab Singh, took serious note of the activity which, he said, would continue unless the leases were cancelled.

Mr Mahajan pointed out that mining was continuing in the demarcated forest areas although the government had claimed that it had stopped.

Replying to a question regarding the setting up of a cement manufacturing plant at Chamba, the Industries Minister said the forest and environment clearence for the factory was yet to be received from the Centre.

He said the government had framed a scheme for the resettlement and rehabilitation of the 381 families becoming landless and 192 families becoming homeless because of acquisition of 2179 bighas of land for the factory.

Mr Khachi (Cong) pointed out that the alliance partner of the BJP government, Mr Sukh Ram, was against the setting up of cement factories and would the project not create bickerings among the alliance partners. The Industries Minister said there would be no problem in setting up the factory at Chamba.

The minister said a grant of Rs 85,000 per family would be given to those affected due to the construction of the factory in the Churah subdivision. The oustees of Manjeer who were not being provided any alternative land, would be paid Rs 50,000 for those whose land was more than 5 bighas and Rs 45,000 for those whose holding was less than 5 bighas.

LOANS: In a written reply, the Chief Minister informed Mr Chander Kumar, Mr Gangu Ram Musaffir and Mr Harsh Mahajan (Cong) that the government had raised loans amounting Rs 738.57 crore in the shape of non-slr bonds through the HP Health System Corporation and HP Roads and other Infrastructure development corporation at an interest rate ranging between 12.57 per cent and 13.60 per cent.

He said the total debt of the state government as on December 1 was Rs 8892.18 crore.

Loans amounting to Rs 1321.25 crore, Rs 993.91 crore and Rs 1893.38 crore were raised in 1997-98, 1998-99 and 199-2000 respectively.

GUESTS: The Chief Minister in a written reply informed Mr Chander Kumar (Cong) that a total expenditure of Rs 68.61 lakh was made on the 154 state guests who visited Himachal Pradesh in eight months during the current financial year up to December 8. These included 715 VIPs and 173 attendants.

He said that an amount of Rs 58.86 lakh was spent on their boarding and lodging and Rs 11.75 lakh on their transportation.

Speaker releases two books
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Dec 27 — The historic Council Chamber, which houses the Himachal Vidhan Sabha, has been a witness to many epoch-making events during its 75 years of existence.

It has seen the grandeur of the Viceroys and the dignity and grace of Vithal Bhai Patel, the first elected president of the Central Legislative Assembly. In fact, history was made in 1925, the very year in which the imposing building was constructed, with the election of Mr Patel as the first non-official candidate, in accordance with the recommendation of the joint selected committee of the British parliament on the Government of India Act, 1919.

The Council Chamber, where many important resolutions concerning the independence of India were passed by the central legislature, changed many a hand after Independence. Immediately after Partition. The Government of Punjab was shifted to Shimla and the Punjab legislature held its sittings in this building when the capital of Punjab was shifted to Chandigarh. After the abolition of the Himachal Legislative Assembly in 1956, the state government Secretariat was shifted to this building when Himachal Dhan (the building which housed it) was gutted in a fire. Subsequently, All-India Radio, Shimla, was also housed in it. The premises were reverted to the state legislature when it was revived in 1963.

All this historical facts have been brought out in a comprehensive book ‘brought out by the Vidhan Sabha Secretariat which was released by Mr Gulab Singh, Speaker here yesterday. Besides, history, the book also includes notes on committee system in the house and other information regarding the successive presiding officers and leaders of the Opposition.

Mr Gulab Singh also released a book containing important rulings given by the presiding officers over the years.

Ban ‘export’ of medicinal plants
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Dec 27 — A total ban on the export of medicinal plants in crude form and a cut in the proportion of delicious varieties of apple has been recommended by a national seminar on Himalayan horticulture.

These recommendations were released here today by the Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal.

It has been recommended that the Horticulture Department and the University of Horticulture should procure mother plants of endangered species and optimise their production package to save them from becoming extinct.

The production of high-quality flower seed in different agro-climatic zones of the state should be encouraged for meeting the domestic and the export market needs.

The delicious varieties’ proportion of apple should be reduced from the existing 90 per cent to 50 per cent with a provision of 33 per cent of pollinisers and the remaining 17 per cent for the other established regular fruit bearing varieties.

New pollinising varieties of apple should be identified and their proportion in the orchards should be increased. Emphasis should be on the increased use of bee colonies for improving pollination.

It was observed that the horticultural assets of the state were in various stages of degradation and it was not too late to reverse the process. A detailed horticulture development plan should be prepared for the next 20 years.

Mapping of innovation development should form one of the core strategies for the development of the appropriate technologies for horticulture. Rejuvenation of old and senile orchards is required for the optimum production of quality fruits. Diversification of horticulture by introducing suitable new crops and varieties for specific locations is also required.

Emphasis is required to be given for developing early maturing, dwarf and export varieties of mango, virus resistant varieties of acid lime, seedless varieties of mandarin and sweet orange in the sub-tropical areas.

It has been recommended that the selective use of pesticides should be made only after proper assessment of their impact on natural predators, enemy complex and effect on plants.

There is a need for selecting suitable cultivators of various fruits for dryland horticulture. This should attract special attention of scientists in view of the changing climatic scenario. There is an urgent need for importing the lateral bearing varieties of nuts and dryfruits.

It has been recommended that emphasis should be given for improving the existing grading and packing houses of horticulture.

Simple cost-effective technologies for the production of products like fruit powder, pasles, leahethers, toffees etc. should be developed and popularised among the farmers for ensuring on farm utilisation of the surplus horticulture produce.

Hamirpur dist may face drought
From Our Correspondent

HAMIRPUR, Dec 27 — A drought-like situation prevails in the district, due to no rain during the past four months. If the situation persists, the district may face a major drought in 2001.

Unfavourable weather has damaged the wheat crop and they are wilting under the foggy conditions.

The district receives about 1150 to 1200 mm of rain every year from June 15 to August 31 and thereafter from October 15 to December 31 and even in January.

Scanty rainfall during the monsoons and even during the winters has upset the calculations of the people who were expecting bumper rabi crops this time.

A visit to various parts of the district revealed that the farmers who have sown rabi crops panicky as they feel that they will have to plough their fields again. People are in the habit of sowing rabi crops late in the district around Lohri. About 40 per cent of the rabi sowing is done during the Lohri season. But most of them are preparing to plough their fields again.

Worst affected are the farmers as they have no grass to feed their cattle. The price of fodder in open market has gone up to 250 per quintal. A large number of farmers of the district, who used to sell their surplus grass to others, have now dumped the stocks with an eye on the coming season when its price will rise in the market.

The Department of Irrigation-cum-Public Health is also having sleepless nights over the reports regarding shortage of drinking water and irrigation water from various parts of the district. Department sources say that the water table in the district has gone down and if there is no rain, the district is bound to face an acute water shortage during the coming summer season.

Reports from interiors of the district say that even during the winter season the water level in the khuds has gone down. The water discharge from these khuds, which are the main source of water supply in the district has also shown a downward trend compelling the I&PH authorities to ask the state government to prepare contingency plans for the lifting of water from other sources like the Beas.

The failure of the successive state governments to provide adequate irrigation facilities has also led to the present situation in the district. Only 4 per cent of the total area of the district is under irrigation.

There are 57 irrigation schemes operating in the district at present. A sum of Rs 6.75 crore had been spent for their construction. However, most of them are non-functional due to improper maintenance and failure of the government to sanction more funds for their upkeep. The Department of Irrigation-cum-Public Health proposed to cover 75 hectares more under irrigation to increase the total area under irrigation to 3,516 hectatres.

Dinner meeting creates ripples
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Dec 27 — Last night’s dinner meeting of six ministers and legislators of the Shanta Kumar faction, who had recently withdrawn support to the Chief Minister, Mr P.K.Dhumal, has created ripples in the ruling BJP circles here. These leaders, who had recently hurled the “letter bomb “reportedly met at the residence of the transport minister, Mr K.K. Kapoor. It is learnt that they discussed the issue of reorganisation of the state executive of the party which Mr Dhumal had decided during negotiations with the rebels. These ministers, including Mr Kapoor, the IPH Minister, Mr Ramesh Dhawala, Mr Dulo Ram and Mrs Nirmala, both legislators, met the state BJP chief, Mr Jai Kishen Sharma, this evening on the issue of recasting the state executive of the party to give more representation to their group.

Poor representation to the Shanta Kumar faction in the executive was a major issue highlighted by them in their letter which created a turmoil in the BJP. Mr Jai Kishen Sharma, when contacted by TNS, said he had himself invited these leaders for talks so that the matter could be settled. He was hopeful that the issue would be settled shortly.

One crushed to death
From Our Correspondent

MANDI, Dec 27 — One person was killed when a Shimla-bound bus of Krishna Travels crushed to death a daily-wage employee Nageshwar (30) of Andhra Pradesh yesterday near Takoli on the Mandi-Kulu highway. An eyewitness said the bus dragged the body for 50 ft. The driver of the bus, Pyar Singh, who ran away was later arrested and bus impounded by the police.