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Monday, February
11, 2002,
Chandigarh, India  
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Govt move spells doom for herbal resources Dalai Lama returns
to warm welcome Cong leaders decry Gulab Singh’s outbursts Icy winds lash tribal areas |
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HPU records in a mess Himachal apple to be available in off-season Rise in migratory birds at Pong Dam 4,000 trucks remain off road New school timings irk parents
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Govt move spells doom for herbal
resources Shimla, February 10 The ruthless extraction of high-value medicinal and aromatic plants over the past two decades has already brought many important kinds on the verge of extinction. This has happened despite the control exercised by the Forest Department, which granted export permits until now. Under the new policy, the panchayats will be free to issue export permit for all minor forest produce. In case of endangered species, the permit will be issued on the recommendation of the forest guard, which is hardly enough to check the exploitation of the natural resources. Even under the old policy, herbs were being illegally extracted by traders. As per the rules, only the local right holders can collect herbs from forests. However, traders from outside have been deploying labourers for collection and taking the produce after obtaining a certificate from the panchayats that it was extracted by right holders. With the control of the Forest Department virtually removed, such malpractices will only increase. An exercise by the department to workout an effective strategy for the conservation and management of plant resources revealed that out of the 42 widely exploited medicinal plants, four species were critically endangered, 11 endangered and another 22 highly vulnerable. The panchayats will be keen to maximise the extraction of herbs to increase their income and in absence of any effort to regenerate the rare herbs, the herbs will be wiped out. Efforts to cultivate medicinal plants have just started in the state and it would take a long time to standardise the know-how for cultivating such a vast range of species which mostly grow in high reaches within an altitudinal range of 6,000 ft to 11,000 ft. Dr Lal Singh of the Himalayan Research Group, an NGO which has introduced the cultivation of herbs in Mandi district, feels that the Panchayats should be empowered to grant export permit only for cultivated herbs. The responsibility to regulate the exploitation of herbs naturally growing in forests should remain with the Forest Department. |
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Dalai Lama returns
to warm welcome Dharamsala, February 10 Hundreds of Tibetans, lined up along the route from the Tibetan secretariat to the palace of the Dalai Lama, to get a glimpse of their leader whose illness had caused a lot of concern . The Dalai Lama, who came by road from Chandigarh, did not stop anywhere and drove straight to his palace at McLeodganj. Several of them disappointed as he did not stop anywhere for a public appearance. Ministers and officials of the Tibetan-government-in-exile received him at his palace where a special welcome gate had been erected. Special prayers are being held at Namgyal Monastery, attached to the palace for his good health and long life by senior monks of the four schools of Tibetan Buddhism, Sakya, Nyimya, Kagyu , Gelupa and Bon . These prayers will continue for the next 10 days. The Tibetans had been anxiously awaiting the Dalai Lama’s return as he had taken ill, compelling him to cancel the Kalachakra teachings at Bodh Gaya. He was admitted to Lilavati Hospital in Mumbai. With the Tibetan Cabinet, Kashag, taking a decision to cancel the Dalai Lama’s travel programmes and other private and public audience and interviews for the next three months, he is expected to take complete rest till the end of April. |
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Cong leaders decry Gulab Singh’s outbursts Mandi, February 10 In a
strong-worded statement, they accused Mr Gulab Singh of ditching his mentors ever since he joined politics. He had won election on the ticket of the Janta Party in 1977 and the then Chief Minister, Mr Shanta Kumar, had included him in the Cabinet. On the fall of the Shanta government in 1980, he
(Gulab Singh) joined hands with Congress Chief Minister Ram Lal who made him a minister. Congress leaders alleged that again in 1982 when he was denied Congress ticket, he revolted against the party and fought the election as an Independent. After winning, he again joined the Congress just to become a minister. They said in 1983, Mr Virbhadra Singh became the Chief Minister and gave him ticket in 1985, but he was defeated. He, however, went on enjoying the patronage of Mr Virbhadra Singh who included him in his Cabinet in 1988. At one time, he was a confidant of Mr Sukh Ram but ditched him in his bad days, they alleged. They said they were intrigued with the “politics of opportunism” of Mr Gulab Singh, who was again hobnobbing with the Congress while his wife had joined the BJP and was member of the state working committee. |
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Icy winds lash tribal
areas Shimla, February 10 All lakes, springs and rivulets in the tribal areas continued to be frozen and life was out of gear. However, people in the Shimla region heaved a sigh of relief when a bright sun greeted them. There was no change in the night temperature which was hovering around -2°C and -3°C. Traffic in the interior of Shimla district is still disrupted and efforts are being made to clear the road beyond Kufri and Narkanda and other places. The Public Works Department opened the road leading to Kotkhai and Narkanda. However, buses to Rohru were still being plied via Vikas Nagar and to Rampur via Basantpur. Taps remained dry in many localities as water pipes were frozen. MANALI: Normal life was restored in the Manali region on Sunday after it experienced the heaviest snow of the season during the past four days. The Kulu-Manali national highway has been thrown open for vehicular traffic after the HPPWD launched a massive snow clearance operation between the key tourist resort of Manali and Parlikuhal, 20 km from here. The Manali-Kulu left bank road is, however, still blocked. The Manali-Vashisht road leading to the shrine of Lord Vashisht and the Manali-Kanyal link road are also closed to vehicular traffic. |
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HPU records in a mess Shimla Although the HPU was set up about 32 years ago, no attention has so far been given to the records section, housed on the top floor of the administrative block. Those manning the record room complain that they have to shift the records particularly during the rainy season, when the roof starts leaking. Among the heaps of registers and loose sheets stacked haphazardly, there are papers pertaining to the studies of many renowned persons including interim Afghan head Hamid Karzai, who did his post-graduation in political science from the HPU. The record room handles the tabulation and history sheets of about one lakh students every year. There is no separate scrutiny cell. It is pointed out that no additional staff has been provided for the record room since 1990 during which time the number of students and the papers to be handled has multiplied. A separate building for the examination wing was proposed to be constructed a few years ago, but the plan has not materialised so far. |
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Himachal apple to be available in off-season Shimla, February 10 This has been made possible by the improved storage techniques adopted by the HPMC, states leading fruit processing public sector undertaking, enhancing the life of apples in cold storages from 4 to 8 months. Under the new storage technique humidity is increased from 85 to 90 per cent, temperature maintained between 1°C and 3°C and the harmful carbon monoxide and ethylene gases are replaced with nitrogen to ensure that there is no deterioration in the quality or appearance of the fruit. This year about 3,000 boxes of apples have been stored in the cold storages of the HPMC at Oddi and Patlikuhal. The HPMC has initiated several new products during the last four years and exported about 780 tonnes of apple juice concentrate (AJC) to Germany, the USA and Ghana. Apart from this, it also exported 2 tonnes of cider vinegar to Ghana. About 400 tonnes of apple juice concentrate has also been supplied to M/s Nestle India Ltd. Its famous products Tetrapack and Apple Tapple are being supplied to Indian Airlines and the Railways. New products of orange Ditto and natural apple juice, in tinned packaging of the HPMC will be launched soon. A major initiative has been taken by introducing cider vinegar, apple and plum wine in the brand name of “Kalpa Cider and Wine”, which are being marketed in the state and outside. So far 33,000 apple wine bottles have been exported to Kerala. The HPMC has also entered into an agreement with multinational company Indage Group of Industries for setting up of fruit-based wineries in Shimla and Kulu districts. This will go a long way in getting remunerative prices to the fruit growers of the state. Under the market intervention scheme the HPMC procured 7,037 tonnes of apple and after processing produced 634 tonnes of juice concentrate last season. It also procured 151 tonnes of citrus fruit to help the growers living in lower hills. It purchased 11,657 boxes of quality apple directly from the growers in the state and sold these in terminal markets in Chandigarh, Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai. The HPMC is planning to market potato chips for which packaging machines are being installed shortly. Besides, it also proposes to set up more cold storages in terminal markets in Kolkata and Chennai. It has already won national and international awards for quality fruit production. Recently it has been selected for the “15th Europe Award for Quality” from among 115 participants from different countries.
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Rise in migratory birds at Pong
Dam Dharamsala, February 10 The survey conducted by the Wildlife wing of the Forest Department showed that their number had risen to 1.14 lakh from 80,000 last year. A census is concluded every year in February at the Pong Wetland to assess the migratory trend adopted by these birds in terms of species and number. “The unique aspect of this year’s census has been a well-organised operation involving eight parties and the use of rowing boats instead of the usual motor boats,” said Mr R.C. Bergaal, Conservator, Wildlife. In order to ensure the maximum accuracy through a well-organised census operation, the Conservator and three DFOs formed part of the eight parties constituted to undertake the counting. The number of birds has gone up considerably this year and the sighting of the rare black stork after a period of almost 15 years was a pleasant surprise. The Pong Dam is one of the biggest man-made wetland of the north formed by the construction of a dam across the Beas. The area of the water body is about 18,000 hectares which provides an attractive and suitable habitat for the birds. The birds start arriving here by October and begin their homeward journey in March once the temperature begins to rise. Over 50 species of birds, including brahminy ducks, sarus crane, black-necked and red-necked grebe, comorants, Indian shag, darter, eastern grey heron, pintails, egrets, black stork, shovllers, common pochards, tufted ducks, moorhens, coots, gulls, river terns and marsh harriers visit the sanctuary every year. The wildlife wing undertakes intensive patrolling and supervision in and around the dam to check poaching. |
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4,000 trucks remain off
road Solan, February 10 These trucks are registered with the Bagal Land Losers Transport Society, Ambuja — Darla — Kashlog — Maangu Truck Operators Society and Solan District Truck Operators Society. After prolonged agitation some years ago, they had struck an agreement with a cement major for exclusive right to carriage of the production as well as raw material, subject to certain conditions which included fixed rates for transportation. This agreement expired on March 31, 2001. As the company management dilly-dallied in starting negotiations for a fresh agreement, the truck operators resorted to an agitation which lasted over three months. It was called off following successful mediation by local leaders and the district administration. Mr Jagdish Thakur, vice-president of the Bagal transport society which was formed by those whose land was acquired by the company, said the transporters were forced to go on a strike in view of the company’s continued refusal to a fresh agreement. He said all three societies had served a notice to the company, giving it a 21-day notice in this regard. The notice period expired on Friday, prompting the societies to give a call for strike. He alleged that the company’s recent decision to set up a dump at Maid in Hamirpur and to deduct between Rs 250 and Rs 300 per round as transportation loss was the immediate provocation for the strike. He said both these measures had started causing sizeable financial losses to truck operators. While no company spokesman was available for comment, it has been gathered that the company complains of inadequate trucks.
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New school timings irk
parents Shimla, February 10 Students, teachers and parents are annoyed as the 8 a.m. timing has been made applicable from tomorrow. The school authorities in Delhi were apparently ignorant of the harsh weather while ordering the school to reopen at 8 a.m. No other school will reopen so early. With the entire school area covered under a thick cover of snow, the parents are worried about their wards. The school used to start at 9.30 a.m. but now the authorities have changed the timings. |
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Kinnaur schools to reopen on Feb 15 Shimla, February 10 |
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