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Monday,
April 29, 2002, Chandigarh, India  
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328 schemes to boost farm production Imported resin spells doom for farmers Barog hills losing green cover Shanta faction’s show of strength Virbhadra flayed for
anti-Sukh Ram remarks |
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Counting of votes today Breach loss minor, claims Chief Engineer Nod to water project for Hamirpur SP ordered to take action against SHO Bhan: NGOs can inculcate patriotism
CM opens blood donation camp Temple ‘kalash’ reinstalled Hindi writer sues publisher
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328 schemes to boost farm production Shimla, April 28 The government’s endeavour is to ensure economic uplift of the farming community through higher productivity which will be achieved by making available better quality seeds and crop diversification. The outlay under the state Plan has been increased from Rs. 59.67 crores in 1997- 98 to Rs 113 crore in 2001-2002. As about 80 per cent of the total cultivable land is un-irrigated and rain- fed, the main emphasis of the state government is on popularising cash crops such as off-season vegetables, vegetable seed production, seed potato, tea and ginger. In addition, efforts are on to increase the cereal production by providing improved and hybrid varieties of seeds to the farmers at subsidised rates. As many as 328 schemes have been sanctioned under Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) programme involving an expenditure of Rs 30.58 crore which will help bring over 7400 hectares under irrigation on completion. Under the Community Based Water Harvesting and Natural Resources Management Project 133 watersheds have been sanctioned and Rs 8.29 crore will be spent under it to reclaim 7426-hectares of land through soil conservation structures, water harvesting structures and vegetative measures. Besides, 5000 water- harvesting structures have been constructed on individual farmers fields. Under the Plan Rs 3 crore has been provided to small and marginal farmers. Funds are also being arranged from the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard) for implementing irrigation projects. During the current financial year an area of 7000 hectares will be brought under irrigation with the assistance of Nabard. For the development of rain-fed areas, a National Watershed Development Project for Rural Areas (NWDPRA) has been launched under the project. 61 watersheds covering an area of 46,000 hectares are being treated. Till now Rs 9 crore have been spent. To acquaint farmers with latest farm knowhow, a Rs 25 crore World Bank aided National Agricultural Technology Project has been launched. Soil testing has also been given a major impetus by the state government to enable the farmers to grow crops best suited for their land. One lakh Soil Health Cards are being provided to the farmers and in the next five years all farmers will be given such cards. Nine soil-testing labs have been strengthened with the central assistance of Rs 1.14 crore. For providing soil-testing facilities at the field of the’ farmers, two new mobile soil testing vans have also been put into service. A state Pesticides Testing Laboratory has been set up at Shimla. The government is providing 50 per cent subsidy to small and marginal farmers on pesticides and 30 per cent to other farmers. They are being provided power tillers, under the mechanisation of Agriculture Scheme at 30 per cent subsidy with a ceiling of Rs 20,000 upto 8-horsepower tillers and Rs 30,000 above 8 horse power tillers. So far 70 power tillers have been distributed. A Rashtriya Krishi Bima Yojna is being implemented to protect the farmers from the vagaries of weather. Under the Diversification in Agriculture Programme 100 vegetable projects have been started and vegetable production has increased to 5.80 lakh tonnes and by the year 2007 it is expected to cross the 10 lakh tonne mark. A special Maize Development Programme has been launched in the state and 30-35 per cent of the maize area has been brought under the high-yielding hybrid varieties. Steps are also being taken to provide marketing facilities and as many as six new markets have been constructed at Arki, Namhol, Sarahan, Koti, Takoli and Dharampur at a cost of Rs 6.68 crore. Work is in progress on 7 other such markets at Nadaun, Bilaspur, Dhanotu, RaIilpur, Solan, Rajgarh and Banlagi. The estimated cost of these markets is Rs 8.51 crore. |
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Imported resin spells doom for farmers Shimla, April 28 Imported resin products from China have flooded the domestic market leading to sharp fall in the prices over the past three months. The rates of imported resin crashed from $ 490 per tonne in February to $ 465 per tonne in this month. Last year the rate averaged $ 515 per tonne. The state Forest Corporation, which has two resin processing units in the state, has already started feeling the pinch of the downward trend in the market. While the landed cost of the imported rosin at Mumbai is Rs 40 per kg, its own product comes to Rs 41.50 per kg. Thus, its market has been confined to northern India where the cost of imported rosin is about Rs 2 per kg higher on account of transportation by road from Mumbai. It is facing problems in disposing of the superior “pale grades” of resin, which account for the bulk of its produce, as they are not much in demand in northern India. Consequently, the unsold
stocks are piling up and have already crossed the over 400 tonne mark. The corporation is, however, confident that it will be able to dispose of the unsold stocks in May when the factories are closed for annual maintenance and there will be no production. If the downward trend continues the farmers, who till now far had no option but to sell their produce to the corporation, will not find many buyers outside the state. As such, the lifting of the ban on export of resin may not benefit them much. The corporation, which has been facing shortage of raw material due to fall in production from private forests for the past few years, is not taking any chances and taking steps to meet the situation. It has decided to tap an increased number of pine trees on government land to make up for the likely shortage of raw material for its two resin processing factories after the lifting of ban on the export of resin. Until last season about 6.80 lakh private trees were being tapped in the state and the corporation was getting about 27,000 quintals of resin for processing from them. Besides, 19 lakh trees were being tapped in government forests, yielding about 72,000 quintal of resin every season. With the lifting of the ban, it may not get any resin from private forests and, as such, it has no option to but to tap more trees in government forests to keep its factories running. At present only about 30 per cent of the trees are being tapped and it could be safely increased to 50 per cent. Joint teams comprising forests guards, markers, Deputy Rangers and Assistant Managers have identified and enumerated over three lakh additional tappable trees. These are being taken up for tapping this season. The additional trees will, to a large extent, make up for the likely shortfall in the availability of private resin. The two factories at Nahan and Bilaspur have a capacity to process 1.11 lakh quintals of resin annually. However, their full capacity has not been utilised due to shortage of raw materials for the past four years mainly due to fall in production of resin from private forests. |
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Barog hills losing green cover Kumarhatti The illegal axing of small trees in dense forests, mainly to collect firewood, has reached alarming proportions. The practice is more prevalent in pockets of the interior forest areas . Some blame migrant labourers for this, though the role of the local people in such felling cannot be overlooked. Haphazard construction has also reduced the green cover to some extent, particularly along the Kalka-Shimla National Highway. The situation is particularly bad near Barog where builders are turning the hills into a concrete jungle. The carving out of paths from the highway to various buildings by removing the soil unscientifically has wreaked havoc . During the last monsoon a number of trees fell during landslips. Moreover, the dumping of construction debris on the valley side of the highway has harmed the flora. However, some of the builders claim that construction work is undertaken keeping in mind the ecology of the area. Besides, when trees are felled during construction, new plantation is undertaken. However, a visit to new colonies that have come up between the stretch of highway from this town to Barog shows that the green cover has been harmed by the construction activity. The Special Area Development Authority, which was set up under the HP Town and Country Planning Act, 1977, mainly to check unplanned construction on both sides of the highway, has more or less failed to achieve it objectives. SADA has faced criticism from the public because of its complex procedures relating to construction work. Residents say it is an instrument to harass ordinary people; those with influence usually undertake construction in gross violation of the rules. Quarrying is another problem that has plagued the area for a long time. Such activity is also gradually making the hills barren. |
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Shanta faction’s show of strength Solan, April 28 The officially stated purpose of the meeting was to cement ties among party members. However, some dissident leaders, while speaking on the condition of anonymity, did not mince words in saying that “It was nothing but a show of strength aimed at warning the party’s leadership about the perils of ignoring Shanta loyalists.” Even though the function was the fifth of its kind in the district since Mr Sofat was denied party’s ticket in the 1999 byelection, today’s show assumed importance on two scores. First, state BJP president Kishan Lal, during one of his recent visits here, had termed the holding of such functions as violative of party discipline that could attract action. Second, it had been organised virtually on the heels of the party central command’s open humiliation of Mr Shanta Kumar following his criticism of Chief Minister Modi’s handling of the Gujarat situation. Significantly, Mr Sofat has recently resigned from the post of Director, Food Corporation of India. Sources close to dissidents said the resignation move was designed to keep Mr Shanta Kumar out of the scope of any disciplinary action, in case one be initiated against Mr Sofat after the holding of today’s
function. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Sofat recalled how he waged a long legal battle to secure justice for getting Congress MLA Krishna Mohini unseated in 1999 and how injustice was doled out to him by the party high command by denying the party ticket to him. He rued that the present MLA, Dr Rajiv Bindal, had started a campaign aimed at belittling his contribution to the development of the constituency. Mr Sofat said he would not sit idle and let others spread canards against him. The former minister’s friends and well-wishers presented a “Bolero” jeep to him “for taking his case to the people’s court.” A former BJP minister, Mr Des Raj, a former DCC president, Dr D.C. Guleria, a former constituency president, Mr Arun Mittal, three sitting BJP Municipal Councillors, and numerous former and sitting panchayat, panchayat Samiti and Zila Parishad office bearers participated in today’s function. |
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Virbhadra flayed for
anti-Sukh Ram remarks Bilaspur, April 28 Addressing media-persons here last evening, Mr Rattan said Mr Sukh Ram was responsible for not allowing Mr Virbhadra Singh to return to power in March, 1998. He said Mr Virbhadra Singh was nursing a grudge against Mr Sukh Ram due to this. He said being a former Chief Minister and a responsible leader of the main Opposition party, Mr Virbhadra Singh should not ignore “historical and political” facts which were well-known to him. |
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Counting of votes today Shimla, April 28 The counting of votes for Wards No 1 to 4, 9 to 12 and 17 to 20 would be taken up in the first phase, while votes of the remaining 12 wards would be counted in the second phase. The fate of 119 candidates in the fray would be decided by tomorrow afternoon. Elaborate security arrangements have been made for the counting of votes and the ballots kept under tight security at the Deputy Commissioner’s office.
PTI |
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Breach loss minor, claims Chief Engineer Mandi, April 28 During a visit to the site, Mr B.K. Mahajan, Chief Engineer, Larji Project, said it had been planned to do the concreting up to 31,500 cubic metres during the ongoing working season before the onset of monsoon. Of this, 28,100 cubic metres concrete had already been placed in the barrage and the remaining was being done when the rains caused flood in the Beas. He expressed confidence that the shortfall would now be offset during the next working season. Mr Mahajan said it had been wrongly reported in a section of the Press (not The Tribune) that huge loss had been caused due to the washing away of the coffer dam. He said the coffer dam was constructed every year to carry on the construction work in the normal course and was allowed to breach in the rainy season. The only difference this year was that it had been breached earlier. He claimed that the loss of time and progress would be made up in the next working season. He said dewatering pumps were pressed into service but still there had been an alarming increase in the water-level of the Beas to EL 959.7m. When it became certain that the dam was bound to be submerged, measures were taken on a war footing for the safety of manpower and evacuation of the costly equipment deployed in and around the barrage complex. Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister, had ignited the last blast of the 4.12 km long head race tunnel on March 12 which was a major breakthrough in the execution of the project, the first unit of which was likely to be commissioned in March, 2004, and start yielding an annual income of Rs 150 crore to the state exchequer besides easing the power crisis. The Beas basin in the state has an
identified hydel power potential of 4300 MW of which only 1550 MW has been exploited so far. Larji is the easiest project to
execute as most of the infrastructure needed for the project already existed on the site. It is situated on the national highway 21, 20 km from Bhuntar airport. The foundation stone of the project had been laid by the then Chief Minister, Mr Shanta Kumar, in April, 1991. The project was scheduled to be completed by 1997. |
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Nod to water project for Hamirpur Hamirpur, April 28 The project is aimed at creating water potential in the selected 133 villages of the district and performing water and soil treatment besides augmenting the natural resources. All six development blocks of the district would be covered under the project, according to Dr H.R. Sharma, Deputy Director of Agriculture, Hamirpur, who is also in charge of the project. The first installment of Rs 23.38 lakh had already been received by the department. He said during the three-year project that would be started by the Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, shortly from Gahlian village, 2,423 soil conservation structures would be constructed at a cost of Rs 321.57 lakh. Similarly, water harvesting structures numbering 274 would be constructed at a cost of Rs 370.62 lakh and vegetation measures would be adopted on an area of 2,257 hectares costing about Rs 135.42 lakh. |
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SP ordered to take action against SHO Sundernagar, April 28 All six accused were arrested by the S.H.O. in connection with the death of Noora Ram who suffered injuries on account of a fall on April 13 and admitted Civil Hospital Jogindernagar and died on April 16. The police was registered a case and arrested the six accused on April 16th. Later the six moved bail applications. The court while disposing of the applications in a common order held that Noora Ram died on account of a fall and the accused were arrested merely on suspicion. Even the police officials did not record the statements of the witnesses in the locality for three days. Some of the witnesses stated that the deceased died on account of a fall as he was heavily drunk and the accused made him to sleep. The police opposed the bail applications but admitted that the accused were arrested under Section 41(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code on mere suspicion. The court observed that the S.H.O., Jogindernagar made no request to the court which remanded the accused in police custody that no offence had been made out and the accused had to be discharged. |
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Bhan: NGOs can inculcate patriotism Shimla, April 28 Presiding over the annual convention of the Lions Club at
Kufri, near here, today, he asked non-government organisations to produce patriotic literature and serials for school children. He lamented that the younger lot had much knowledge about the film stars but were completely unaware the freedom fighters. There was an urgent need to apprise them about the sacrifices made by the patriots who liberated the country from the foreign rule. He said innumerable people laid down their lives during the freedom struggle and hardships faced and tales of courage and sacrifice left behind by martyrs like Veer Savarkar and Jhalkari Bai should be told to each children. Dr Bhan urged the people to give due respect to the soldiers who were guarding the borders of the country, besides family of the martyrs. He also underlined the role of voluntary organisations in supplementing the social services and welfare of the needy people. Uplift of the downtrodden was the social duty of each individual. Mr Pankaj
Srivastava, governor, Lions District 321, called upon the members to build an image of selfless workers by striving to alleviate human sufferings. Dr Bhan presented the Gopal Dass Nagori Memorial Humanitarian Award to Mr Sushil
Aggrawal. |
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500 examined at cardiac camp Nalagarh, April 28 The core cardiac team of Fortis, comprising some of the best medical professionals selectively chosen from institutions from both India and abroad — Dr Achintya
Moulick, Dr Harinder Singh Bedi, Dr Jagmohan Varma, Dr Gurcharan Singh Kalra and Dr
R.K. Jaswal, were present. According to doctors: “There is an alarming increase in the incidence of heart-related ailments in our country today. People and doctors need to keep themselves aware of this. At
Fortis, we are committed to give our patients not just the best quality care but also make them aware of prevention through better understanding”. Apart from providing consultation at the camp, the doctors educated the patients about the increasing incidence of heart disease in India, specially Punjab and Himachal, need for regular check-ups to identify and ward off imminent health problems, the focus was to not only provide the best cardiac care to suffering patients, but also educate them in preventing heart-related ailments. |
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CM opens blood donation camp Shimla, April 28 Inaugurating a blood donation camp organised by the Sant Nirankari Mission here today, he said donating blood was real service to society and humanity. He said religion should be used to inspire the people to serve the suffering humanity. He expressed hope that the Mission would organise such camps in other parts of the state. |
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Temple ‘kalash’ reinstalled Chamba, April 28 According to historical records, King Chattar Singh (1664-90AD), the ruler of the then princely State of Chamba, installed the “kalash” as a defiance against the imperial orders issued by the Delhi Durbar for the demolition of Chamba temples. The old “kalash” was badly damaged in a devastating fire in 1957 when the double-storey half-timbered building in the temple complex was burnt to ashes. About 6-feet high kalash was gold plated under the supervision of Prakash Anand, a local craftsman, at a cost of about Rs 3 lakh. The devotees of the town donated gold and cash for the purpose. A large number of devotees, besides members of the District Temple Committee, participated in the “poorna ahuti” of the consecration ceremony. |
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Hindi writer sues publisher Shimla, April 28 The book was first published in 1987 by M\s Lalit
Prakashan. He came to know about the book reprinted under the banner of Sahitya Nidhi after he saw a copy of it in a library which received it as gift from the Raja Ram Mohan Rai Foundation. While the earlier book cost Rs 40, the price tag on the unauthorisedly published edition was Rs 100. He has asked the publisher to stop the sale of the book with immediate effect and pay him Rs 9 lakh as damages for publishing the book under a different banner without permission to avoid paying royalty to him. He has also served a notice on M\s Lalit Prakashan for unauthorisedly publishing the book after remodelling the front page under the name of a different publisher. |
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