The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Wednesday, November 6, 2002, Chandigarh, India

THE TRIBUNE SPECIALS

50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE

TERCENTENARY CELEBRATIONS

H I M A C H A L P R A D E S H

Virbhadra’s remarks irk minister
Shimla, November 5
Mr Narinder Bragta, Minister of State for Horticulture, has ridiculed the statement of former Chief Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh, in which he had alleged that Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal could not differentiate between an apple and a pear.

Jaitley coming to Shimla
Shimla, November 5
Concerned over the turmoil in the party by the ongoing delimitation of Assembly and parliamentary constituencies in the state, the BJP high command has decided to send Mr Arun Jaitley, general secretary, to the state capital to take stock of the situation.

Cong politicising delimitation: BJP
Shimla, November 5
The BJP has charged the Congress with politicising the ongoing delimitation of Assembly and parliamentary constituencies and said its stand had complicated a constitutional issue and created misgivings in the public mind.

MP’s warning on Kangra bandh

Dev Raj Sharma is HPPSC chief
Shimla, November 5
Mr Dev Raj Sharma, member of the Himachal Pradesh Public Service Commission, has been appointed Chairman of the commission. Mr P. C. Katoch, CEO, Himurja, has been appointed member of the commission.

YOUR TOWN

Shimla

EARLIER STORIES

	Abolition of rights panel ‘untenable’ November 4, 2002
	Cannabis on 500 bighas destroyed November 3, 2002
	Base delimitation on 2001 Census: Virbhadra November 2, 2002
	Delimitation fears ‘unfounded’ November 1, 2002
	BJP warns party men of action October 31, 2002
	Sonia advises leaders to work unitedly October 30, 2002
	Aided schools’ staff to begin stir tomorrow October 29, 2002
	Delimitation to suit CM’s interests: Cong October 28, 2002
	Paragliding gets off with IAF men’s show October 27, 2002
	Delimitation: Kangra BJP gives bandh call October 26, 2002

10 killed in two HP mishaps
Shimla, November 5
Ten persons were killed in two road accidents in Lahaul and Spiti and Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh during the past 24 hours. Four persons were killed when their van rolled down and fell into the Khaltu nullah near Kotkhai, 60 km from here last night. The van was on its way from Kotkhai to Kalbhog.

Improved way to store potatoes
Shimla, November 5
To preserve the taste of potatoes the scientists here have developed a technique, using which potatoes can be stored for six months with natural taste intact. This technique will be useful to companies making potato products.

Smoke, noise pollution on rise
Parwanoo, November 5
With industrial activities increasing in the area, the problem of noise and smoke pollution has surfaced in the town. Smoke is posing a serious threat to the environment and poisonous smoke, emitted by chemical and iron melting plants is affecting health of residents of the town.

A subdued Divali

Draft of poll rolls tomorrow

Drift irrigation scheme opened

Virbhadra’s remarks irk minister
Our Correspondent

Shimla, November 5
Mr Narinder Bragta, Minister of State for Horticulture, has ridiculed the statement of former Chief Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh, in which he had alleged that Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal could not differentiate between an apple and a pear. He said such a statement by a former Chief Minister indicated his frustration ove neglect within the Congress and also having failed to do anything for the benefit of apple and fruits growers when he was in power.

He said a payment of Rs 62 had been made for the fruit procured by the present government under the market intervention scheme for the period 1998-2001 as compared to Rs 11.50 crore spent by the Congress during 1994-97. He said the present government had given a subsidy of Rs 21 crore on cartons as compared to Rs 12 crore given by the Congress. Besides Rs 21 crore had been given as subsidy on pesticides and fungicides by the state as compared to Rs 4 crore given by the Congress.

The state Horticulture Minister said apple had been brought under the crop insurance scheme and a Kisan Bhavan constructed in Delhi at a cost of Rs 2 crore.

Mr Bragta alleged that the former Chief Minister had been showing affection towards the residents of Jubbal and Kotkhai after 12 years after the Rohru Assembly constituency was proposed to be reserved by the Delimitation Commission.

He said the present government had imported root stocks of grapes, apple, pears, cherry and other fruits to bring diversification in the economy of apple and other fruits growers.

Jaitley coming to Shimla
Rakesh Lohumi
Tribune News Service

Shimla, November 5
Concerned over the turmoil in the party by the ongoing delimitation of Assembly and parliamentary constituencies in the state, the BJP high command has decided to send Mr Arun Jaitley, general secretary, to the state capital to take stock of the situation.

According to party sources, Mr Jaitley will be arriving here on November 9. He will hold a series of meetings with the Members of Parliament, legislators, and district party presidents, besides the state office-bearers to know their views on the issue.

He is also likely to review the party’s preparation for the ensuing Assembly poll. The elections have taken a backseat ever since the Delimitation Commission circulated the working paper as per which Sulah, from when Mr Shanta Kumar has been contesting elections, was to be scrapped altogether, reducing the total number of seats in the Kangra district from 16 to 15. Besides, Solan, Chachiot, Baijnath and Rohru, the constituencies of the Mr Virbhadra Singh was to be reserved.

The drastic changes proposed in the existing constituencies in the working paper circulated by the commission evoked a sharp reaction from party leaders who have openly opposed the exercise. In fact, the Kangra district unit of the party has even given a call for Kangra bandh on November 7, the day when the commission is scheduled to hold its meeting in Delhi.

Some leaders had even imputed motives to the government, provoking Mr O.P. Kohli, all-India party secretary and in charge of Himachal Pradesh, to issue a warning that dragging the government or the name of the Chief Minister in the matter would be deemed as indiscipline attracting action.

The six associate members of the commission, including the four Lok Sabha MPs from the state and two BJP legislators, had even demanded that the delimitation should be deferred till the Assembly elections. However, the commission had rejected the demand and asked them to come out with specific objections and suggestions after studying the working paper.

The party leadership is worried over the situation as instead of preparing for elections most of the leaders are busy fighting for their own survival.

If delimitation is carried out as proposed the fate of many of them will be sealed for the next 30 years. Some others will have to search for new constituencies to contest elections.

All eyes are on the Kangra bandh. The district is the stronghold of Mr Shanta Kumar, an arch rival of Mr P.K. Dhumal. Many of his supporters will be denied ticket if the delimitation proposals are given the final shape without any major changes.

Incidentally, Mr Jaitley, ever since he has taken over as the party general secretary, had been rushing to the state to resolve crisis in the party. Earlier, he had to defuse the crisis due to the move to create new districts in the state.

Cong politicising delimitation: BJP
Tribune News Service

Shimla, November 5
The BJP has charged the Congress with politicising the ongoing delimitation of Assembly and parliamentary constituencies and said its stand had complicated a constitutional issue and created misgivings in the public mind.

Mr Ganesh Dut, party spokesperson said the objections, if any, could be raised before the Delimitation Commission, which was holding its meeting in New Delhi on November 7. The commission would certainly consider changes in the working proposals if they were found logic. He said delimitation was carried out keeping in view certain parameters like geo-graphical and social conditions and contiguity of the areas.

MP’s warning on Kangra bandh
Our Correspondent

Nurpur, November 5
The call given by the Kangra district unit of the BJP for a bandh on November 7 in protest against the working proposals of the Delimitation Commission is an act of indiscipline and it should be termed as anti-party activities. This was stated by the state BJP general secretary and MP, Rajya Sabha, Mr Kirpal Parmar, while talking to mediapersons here on Sunday.

The BJP general secretary said it was absurd to drag the name of the Chief Minister in influencing the working proposals drafted by the Delimitation Commission. He reiterated that neither the Chief Minister nor any BJP leader had any role to play in this constitutional process being undertaken by the Election Commission of India.

10 killed in two HP mishaps

Shimla, November 5
Ten persons were killed in two road accidents in Lahaul and Spiti and Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh during the past 24 hours. Four persons were killed when their van rolled down and fell into the Khaltu nullah near Kotkhai, 60 km from here last night. The van was on its way from Kotkhai to Kalbhog. Three persons died on the spot while the fourth succumbed to his injuries in community health centre at Kotkhai, police sources said.

In another accident, all six occupants of an oil tanker were killed on the spot when it rollded down into a deep gorge on the Manali-Kaza road, 45 km from Kaza last evening. The tanker was on its way back from Kaza to Manali after unloading the oil supply at Kaza, police sources said. The driver and the conductor of the tanker Naginder Singh and Harjit Singh were among the killed.

The two other victims were identified as Ashok Kumar, ASI and Gylson, a resident of Manali. The Naib Tehsildar, A.K. Bodh said that immediate relief of Rs 25,000 had been announced to the next of kin of each victims. The Governor, Dr Suraj Bhan and the Chief Minister, Prof P.K. Dhumal, have expressed his grief over the tragedy and conveyed their heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family members. TNS

Improved way to store potatoes
Our Correspondent

Shimla, November 5
To preserve the taste of potatoes the scientists here have developed a technique, using which potatoes can be stored for six months with natural taste intact. This technique will be useful to companies making potato products.

Earlier starch content of potatoes stored in cold stores used to increase, making these sweet. Cold store potato is best suited as seed. The technique invented by Central Potato Research Institute (CPRI) scientists will help growers. They can store their produce with natural taste remaining unchanged.

CPRI scientists say potatoes if stored at 10° celsius to 12° celsius temperature, starch content there of will not increase.

Scientists say that CIPC chemical has to be sprayed on potatoes in cold stores.

Smoke, noise pollution on rise
Our Correspondent

Parwanoo, November 5
With industrial activities increasing in the area, the problem of noise and smoke pollution has surfaced in the town.

Smoke is posing a serious threat to the environment and poisonous smoke, emitted by chemical and iron melting plants is affecting health of residents of the town.

A resident of Sector 1 said it had become difficult to breath in evenings as the sector becomes inundated with smoke.

Residents of Sector 5 said an iron melting unit in the sector emits thick smoke in mornings and evenings, which is irritating for eyes.

The residents add that the nagar parishad had installed a wastage dump in the sector and the authorities burn waste in the open. Moreover, trucks, passing through the national highway in the town, also add to the pollution.

Some of the industrial units also throw their chemical waste in ‘nallas’, which mixes with the drinking water, the residents complained.

Doctors in the town said that due to be pollution, allergy cases were on a rise.

A subdued Divali

Kuamrhatti, November 5
Divali failed to bring cheer to the traders whose businesses witnessed a record downfall. The affected were the small traders. A random survey of markets at Solan and Dharampur on Monday revealed that the number of customers was small and a large number of prospective buyers avoided shopping during the festival. The sale of crackers nosedived besides a steep fall in the sale of home appliances and luxury items despite the various discount schemes. However, sweets and dry fruit shops recorded satisfactory sales. People residing in the surrounding five panchayats did not throng the local market this time following heavy losses incurred by farmers, mainly the vegetable growers, due to unfavourable weather conditions.

HAMIRPUR: Divali was celebrated throughout the district on Monday. with enthusiasm and traditional gaiety. People exchanged gifts and sweets with their near and dear ones and did Lakshmi Puja. They also visited temples and offered puja there. The festivals passed off peacefully excepting a stabbing incident that took place at Bhareri Kaswa in the district.