H I M A C H A L   P R A D E S H

Change afforestation policy, says samiti
Shimla, August 6
The Himalaya Bachao Samiti has expressed concern over a continuing thrust on raising pine plantations and urged the Forest Department to change its afforestation policy to achieve the twin objectives of soil and water conservation.

Students observe black day
Shimla, August 6
The Students Federation of Indiatoday observed black day on the Himachal Pradesh University campus in protest against the lathi charge on SFI activists at Government College, Sanjauli, in 1988.

Nadda: govt adopting double standards
Shimla, August 6
Mr J.P. Nadda, a former Health Minister, has accused the Virbhadra government of adopting double standards in the matter of taking action against officers of all-India services.

Working of civic body draws flak
Solan, August 6
Flaying the district administration for harassing the about 150 rehri owners in the town the local MLA, Dr Rajiv Bindal, yesterday demanded the provision of a permanent premises for them. 

Viplove Thakur is chairperson of women’s commission
Shimla, August 6
The Himachal Government today removed Ms Malvika Pathania as the chairperson of the state commission for women and appointed Ms Viplove Thakur in her place.

Change afforestation policy, says samiti
Tribune News Service

Shimla, August 6
The Himalaya Bachao Samiti has expressed concern over a continuing thrust on raising pine plantations and urged the Forest Department to change its afforestation policy to achieve the twin objectives of soil and water conservation.

A deputation of the samiti led by a “Chipko” activist, Mr Kulbhushan Upmanyu, met Mr Chander Kumar, Forest Minister, here yesterday and drew his attention to the fact that monoculture of pine was causing irreparable damage to the environment. The pine forests were neither useful for the local population nor served the purpose of maintaining biodiversity.

Nothing grew under the pine trees as the soil lost fertility. The trees did not help in conserving water or soil. The deputation underlined the need to plant suitable species, which could meet the needs of the local population for fruit fodder and fibre. The government should explore the possibility of growing medicinal and aromatic plants on a large scale to boost the local economy and provide means of livelihood to the hill people.

The deputation stressed that to actively involve the people in protecting the green cover, the government must ensure that some benefits should accrue to the local residents from forests. Diversion from the traditional forestry was essential to ensure people’s participation in forest conservation.

The deputationists urged the minister to review the Catchment Area Treatment (CAT) plan for the Chamera-II project where the allotted funds had allegedly not been properly utilised and the debris was being dumped within the flood zone of the Ravi. This would spell doom for habitations downstream and silt up the reservoir of Chamera-I.

Students observe black day
Our Correspondent

Shimla, August 6
The Students Federation of India (SFI) today observed black day on the Himachal Pradesh University campus in protest against the lathi charge on SFI activists at Government College, Sanjauli, in 1988.

The SFI also welcomed the freshers on the campus and promised to create peaceful academic atmosphere.

Mr Neeraj Basu, campus secretary, stated that the federation would strive for the implementation of the April 10 settlement with the university administration.

Meanwhile, Mr Tikender Singh Panwar, state DYFI secretary, reaffirmed that the federation would oppose all backdoor entries.

Nadda: govt adopting double standards
Tribune News Service

Shimla, August 6
Mr J.P. Nadda, a former Health Minister, has accused the Virbhadra government of adopting double standards in the matter of taking action against officers of all-India services.

In a statement here today, he said the government had taken affront to the decision of the Centre to quash the chargesheet issued by it to Mr Diwakar Prasad, a senior IPS officer of Himachal cadre, who had proceeded on Central deputation after the change of the government without getting properly relieved from his assignment in the state. However, on the other hand it had withdrawn the case against Mr B.S. Thind, another IPS officer, from the high court without even consulting the Centre, which had granted permission to prosecute him. He said the charge of Mr Virbhadra Singh, Chief Minister, that the Centre had trampled on the right of the state to discipline its officer was misplaced. The Centre was the appointing and controlling authority for officers of the all-India cadres.

He said the Centre had the right to take appropriate decision on the representation of Mr Prasad and terming it as an undue interference in the state affairs or making it a Centre-state relations issue was wrong. Mr Nadda said the state government could not discipline its officers by adopting double standards and acting in prejudicial manner.

Working of civic body draws flak
Our Correspondent

Solan, August 6
Flaying the district administration for harassing the about 150 rehri owners in the town the local MLA, Dr Rajiv Bindal, yesterday demanded the provision of a permanent premises for them. Asserting that a proposal to adjust them in the sub jail premises at Ganj Bazaar by completing the construction of the new jail complex was put across during the BJP regime, he submitted a demand letter to the Deputy Commissioner, Bharat Khera in this regard.

Expressing concern over the worst-ever water crisis existing in the town he blamed the municipal committee for the inept handling of the situation. While there was no dearth of water for construction work hotels and palatial buildings common man was not getting water for days for together. Ridiculing the role of the committee he said the maintenance of roads, parks, street lights and parapets was being ignored and attention was focussed only to harass the poor rehri owners. The committee which had to collect about 30 lakh rent paid no attention to such crucial matters. There was a boom of unauthorised constructions in the town some of them had sprung up on government land.

He rued the fact that despite the availability of funds totalling crores of rupees with development works were not being undertaken.

Viplove Thakur is chairperson of women’s commission
Tribune News Service

Shimla, August 6
The Himachal Government today removed Ms Malvika Pathania as the chairperson of the state commission for women and appointed Ms Viplove Thakur in her place.

Ms Pathania was appointed by the previous BJP government for a period of one year from June 27, 2001. However, the government later extended her tenure as chairperson until June, 26,2004. The Congress government got the matter examined legally and came to the conclusion that the extension of her tenure by a three-year term was not in order.

Under Rule 4 (3 a) of the state commission for women (salaries, allowances and conditions of service), a person who has held the office of chairperson is not eligible for renomination. Ms Pathania was appointed initially for a term of one year and her tenure could not exceed one year. As such the extension of her tenure for a further period of three years tentamounted to renomination as the word extension cannot change the prohibition on renomination.

The new chairperson of the commission, Ms Thakur, is a former minister and at present holds the post of general secretary in the Pradesh Congress Committee.