H I M A C H A L   P R A D E S H

No differences with CM, says Stokes
Shimla, May 24
Mrs Vidya Stokes, Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee Chief today asserted that there were no differences between her and Mr Virbhadra Singh, Chief Minister, over representation to the state in the Union Cabinet and said there was no occasion to discuss the issue with the central leadership or lobby for any particular leader from the state.

BBMB dumping silt into khad
SUNDER NAGAR: The BBMB project authorities which are managing the 990-MW Beas-Sutlej Link project here have been violating the Forest Conservation Act, 1980, by dumping silt into 30 km-long Suketi khad. 

A view of the Suketi khad filled with silt dumped by the BBMB.  — A Tribune photograph

HP setting up online job service
Nurpur, May 24
The Himachal Pradesh Government is setting up an on line single-window service on all district headquarters from where unemployed youth will get information about job opportunities in industries in every corner of the state”. 

Depleting fish habitats cause concern
Shimla, May 24
A sharp depletion of fisheries due to largescale ecological degradation of riverine resources, mainly due to the setting up of hydel projects in Himachal Pradesh, has become a cause for concern for experts and the state Fisheries Department.

Storm disrupts power supply
Chamba, May 24
The Chamba region was lashed by widespread rain accompanied by thunderstorm intermittently for the past two days, which gave the residents a respite from the scorching heat sweeping the low-lying areas. As a sequel to this, most of telecommunication system had been disrupted in the distant areas. However, officials of the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) were on the job to restore the telecom system.

Lower Bazar post office shifted
Shimla, May 24
Following the damage caused by heavy rains to the already dilapidated building of the Lower Bazar post office, the Postal Department has attached the work of this office with the main General Post Office, located on the Mall, from today.

Sabha seeks quota in jobs for upper caste poor
Nurpur, May 24
Delegates of the Rajput Sabhas from Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir assembled at Maharana Pratap Ground at Labh (Jawali) yesterday to celebrate Maharana Pratap Jyanti.

Parmar varsity students begin relay fast
Solan, May 24
The Students Central Association of the Dr Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry at Nauni today started an indefinite relay fast on the campus in protest against the non-fulfilment of its demands by the Vice-Chancellor. The SCA urged the university authorities to adopt a lenient attitude towards the erring students who had been found guilty in a violence incident where university students had clashed with visiting boxers in March.

Holding of DPC meeting sought
Shimla, May 24
The Himachal Pradesh Police Officers Welfare Association has urged Mr Virbhadra Singh, Chief Minister, to finalise the seniority list of the state police service and hold a meeting of the departmental promotion committee without delay.

Engg students boycott exam, stage dharna
Kumarhatti, May 24
Students of Green Hills Engineering College near here have boycotted their internal examination today over the alleged highhandedness of the college management, poor basic facilities at the boys’ hostel and charging of heavy no dues fine. Only five of the 226 students appeared for the examination today while the remaining staged a dharna outside the college.

Govt may ban katha substitute
Shimla, May 24
The Himachal Government may impose a ban on the use of “gambiar”, a substitute for katha, which is regarded a health hazard. This was stated by Mr Virbhadra Singh, Chief Minister, while presiding over a meeting of the state-level single-window clearance and monitoring authority here today. He said as the imported substitute was much cheaper, it was affecting the indigenous “katha industry”.

1,000 NCC girls to trek in Kufri
Shimla, May 24
Up to a thousand girls from all over the country are expected to participate in an all-India trekking expedition being organised by the National Cadet Corps in the Kufri area, near here, from May 26.

Gastroenteritis in Bhattiyat
Dalhousie, May 24
Residents of the Maloonda belt in Bhattiyat subdivision of Chamba district have been affected by gastroenteritis. Though a number of cases of vomiting and dysentery have been reported, the situation is under control. No casualty has been reported. 

No differences with CM, says Stokes
Tribune News Service

Shimla, May 24
Mrs Vidya Stokes, Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee Chief today asserted that there were no differences between her and Mr Virbhadra Singh, Chief Minister, over representation to the state in the Union Cabinet and said there was no occasion to discuss the issue with the central leadership or lobby for any particular leader from the state.

At a press conference here she said Himachal, like many other states was not in the line for a ministerial berth and such the question of differences with the Chief Minister did not arise. Even in the past the state never got representation at the time of formation of the government and ministers were inducted only when the ministry was expanded.

As far as Mr Anand Sharma, spokesperson of the AICC, was concerned, it was for Mrs Sonia Gandhi to decide whether he was to be retained in the party or in the ministry.

Mrs Stokes hoped that a Congress-led government at the Centre would pave the way for the settlement of state’s claim in the interstate hydel power projects.

Besides the state would also get liberal financial assistance to tide over the crisis.

BBMB dumping silt into khad
Mahesh Chander Sharma

SUNDER NAGAR: The BBMB project authorities which are managing the 990-MW Beas-Sutlej Link project here have been violating the Forest Conservation Act, 1980, by dumping silt into 30 km-long Suketi khad. Neither the Forest Department nor the Ministry of Environment and Forest has ever questioned the BBMB authorities about this violation. This project is one of the rare projects which never bothered to create a dumping site after seeking permission of the Ministry of Environment and Forests.

The BBMB authorities started throwing silt immediately after starting the BSL project into the Lohara and Suketi khads this silt has rendered infertile thousands of bighas in the Balh valley, once considered the most fertile valley of Himachal Pradesh. It has destroyed the aquatic life in a 30-km stretch (6 km of the Lohara khad and 24 km of the Suketi khad). It has destroyed water pools in the Suketi khud. Residents face problems as it is not possible to cross the khad due to silt. Three persons, including two children, lost their lives due to sinking into the silt in the past two months. The farmers cannot irrigate their fields with this silt-prone water the colour of Suketi khad water has turned black, making people to dub it as “kali khad”.

The status of land of these two khads is that of forest land as per section 4 of the Indian Forests Act, 1952.

As per the Forest Conservation Act, 1980, silt or muck cannot be dumped into forest land without approval of the Central Government. When this project was commissioned the Forest Conservation Act was not enacted. After the coming into force of the Forest Conservation Act, 1980, it was made mandatory that no project will be cleared without provision for a dumping site. It was made mandatory no dumping of waste would be allowed without approval of the Central Government i.e. the Ministry of Environment and Forests. However, the BBMB authorities have been violating the Forest Conservation Act since its enactment by dumping silt into a forest area. Teams of experts visited this area several times in order to study this problem, which continues unabated. It seems all these top experts were not aware of the provisions of the Forest Conservation Act as nothing has been done to stop their violation by the BBMB.

Top forest officials admitted that the BBMB was violating the Forests Conservation Act. The BBMB authorities, however, contend that provisions of the Forest Conservation Act are not applicable to the SYL project as this was cleared much prior to the implementation of the Act. Moreover, it denied having ever received any communication from the H.P. Forest Department or the Central Government about the violation of the Forest Conservation Act. The project authorities claimed that plans were afoot for scientific disposal of the silt into the Suketi khad.

HP setting up online job service
Our Correspondent

Nurpur, May 24
The Himachal Pradesh Government is setting up an on line single-window service on all district headquarters from where unemployed youth will get information about job opportunities in industries in every corner of the state”. This was stated by Mr Sat Mahajan, Labour and Employment Minister, in a press conference here last night. He said the service would be provided jointly by the Departments of Labour and Employment.

He said the government was contemplating to make it mandatory for industries, set up in the state, to provide jobs only to Hima-chalis.

Talking about the development of his native Nurpur Assembly constituency, Mr Mahajan informed that the state government had sanctioned Rs 1 crore for the science block of Arya Government College, Rs 16 lakh for providing lifesystem in Civil Hospital, Rs 30 lakh for laboratory in the local Government Senior Secondary School and Rs 10 lakh for converting Bachat Bhavan into an art and cultural centre.

He disclosed that the issue of the ambitious Finna Singh Irrigation Project which was cleared by the state government but rejected by the Vajpayee government in the Centre, would again be taken up with the Congress-led government.

Mr Mahajan, who is also Panchayat Raj and Rural Development Minister, said Dr Manmohan Singh would be approached to bailout the government from loan liability of Rs 15,000 crore. 

Depleting fish habitats cause concern
Tribune News Service

Shimla, May 24
A sharp depletion of fisheries due to largescale ecological degradation of riverine resources, mainly due to the setting up of hydel projects in Himachal Pradesh, has become a cause for concern for experts and the state Fisheries Department.

Inaugurating a two-day Norad-sponsored national workshop on “Trout farming in India”, the Animal Husbandry Minister, Mr Harsh Mahajan, said seeing the depleting fisheries wealth, experts and planners would have to find a mid-way course so that the rich bio-diversity was not lost during the course of development.

“The setting up of big hydel projects like Nathpa Jhakri in Shimla and Chamera in Chamba has virtually destroyed the original habitat of fish, resulting in great damage to the precious fisheries wealth in the state,” he said.

He said though a lot of damage had been caused to the fisheries, especially in places like Barot and Tirthan, timely intervention by the Fisheries Department by way of setting up new farms at Dhamwari and Holi in Bharmour had helped in raising seed capacities.

“There is an urgent need for consensus on the national code of conduct for fisheries, with special reference to riverine waters,” said Mr Mahajan. He said Himalayan states, including Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttaranchal and north-eastern states, should formulate guidelines to prevent ecological imbalance, which greatly damaged fisheries.

Stressing the need for developing cold-water fisheries, Mr Mahajan said a fisheries reservoir had been built at a cost of Rs 5 crore despite the earlier damage caused by river valley projects. This, he added, had helped many unemployed youth set up their own trout farms and so far 150 youth had got self-employment through this. He said the Fisheries Department had provided short-term training courses, seeds free of cost and all possible incentives to encourage youth to take to fish farming.

Mr Mahajan said the viral disease, which had spread in all trout farms in the state, had been controlled to a large extent. Speaking on the occasion, Dr P.L. Narayan, institutional cooperation programme chief of the monitoring unit, Norad, said the successful transfer of the rainbow trout farming technology under foreign-aided projects in HP and Jammu and Kashmir had raised new hopes for the hill people. Participants from all over the country attended the workshop, sponsored by the Norwegian Government, the State Council for Science, Technology and Environment and the state Fisheries Department.

Storm disrupts power supply
Tribune Reporters

Chamba, May 24
The Chamba region was lashed by widespread rain accompanied by thunderstorm intermittently for the past two days, which gave the residents a respite from the scorching heat sweeping the low-lying areas. As a sequel to this, most of telecommunication system had been disrupted in the distant areas. However, officials of the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) were on the job to restore the telecom system.

Tin roofs of several houses, including government buildings, have been blown off at different places following gale, according to reports received here today.

Agriculture experts observe that though the rain is harmful to the apple plants bearing fruits nowadays yet it is useful for the sowing of kharif crops.

NURPUR: The severe duststorm which lashed the area on Saturday has plunged a large number of surrounding villages into darkness due to uprooting of a few electricity poles.

Owing to electricity breakdown the water supply was also hit badly. As many as 20 potable water supply schemes were paralysed causing severe water scarcity in the town and its adjoining villages. Meanwhile, following the public outcry the local MLA and Rural Development Minister, Mr Sat Mahajan, has directed the departmental authorities concerned to restore power and water supply on a warfooting. As a result, water supply in the town was restored this morning. 

Lower Bazar post office shifted
Tribune News Service

Shimla, May 24
Following the damage caused by heavy rains to the already dilapidated building of the Lower Bazar post office, the Postal Department has attached the work of this office with the main General Post Office, located on the Mall, from today.

The Chief Postmaster General, Ms Indira Krishna Kumar, said the decision had been taken keeping in mind the safety of the staff and unavailability of any other accommodation.

She said since the rented building of the Lower Bazar post office was under litigation, the owner was not keen on getting it repaired.

The municipal corporation had been approached for help in locating alternative premises. 

Sabha seeks quota in jobs for upper caste poor
Our Correspondent

Nurpur, May 24
Delegates of the Rajput Sabhas from Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir assembled at Maharana Pratap Ground at Labh (Jawali) yesterday to celebrate Maharana Pratap Jyanti.

They demanded reservation in government jobs for economically backward members of the upper castes. Mr Narayan Singh and Mr K.P. Singh, presidents of the Jammu and Kashmir Sabha, and the Punjab Sabha, respectively, criticised the reservation policy on Government jobs on caste lines. They underlined the need for having the economic criterion as the basis of reservation policy.

Mr Milap Pathania, president of the Himachal Pradesh Rajput Sabha, expressed his concern over the misuse of the Scheduled Caste Atrocity Act by vested interests in the state which had been resulting in framing of false cases against members of upper castes.

Parmar varsity students begin relay fast
Our Correspondent

Solan, May 24
The Students Central Association (SCA) of the Dr Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry at Nauni today started an indefinite relay fast on the campus in protest against the non-fulfilment of its demands by the Vice-Chancellor. The SCA urged the university authorities to adopt a lenient attitude towards the erring students who had been found guilty in a violence incident where university students had clashed with visiting boxers in March.

Some SCA members, led by the dismissed president, Munish Kumar, had a meeting with university officials, including the Registrar, Dean, Horticulture and Forestry, and the Students Welfare Officer today evening.

No classes were held and teaching work remained suspended as the students took out a protest march on the campus in the morning. Additional police force was stationed on the campus as the Registrar apprehended violence. The Vice-Chancellor was not present on the campus today.

The Registrar later clarified that only the enrolment of 33 students had been cancelled while their registration remained intact. The step, he added, had been taken as per the academic regulation of the university. These students could be re-admitted after a petition to the Dean concerned, which would be considered on merit. The SCA, meanwhile, pressed for reversion of the decision, especially since the semester examinations one begining from June 5.

Munish Kumar, while showing concern at the Dr K.K. Jindal Committee report, said the students would intensify their stir as the Vice-Chancellor was adamant on his stand.

Holding of DPC meeting sought
Tribune News Service

Shimla, May 24
The Himachal Pradesh Police Officers Welfare Association has urged Mr Virbhadra Singh, Chief Minister, to finalise the seniority list of the state police service and hold a meeting of the departmental promotion committee (DPC) without delay.

A deputation of the association, which met the Chief Minister, here today, brought to his notice the fact that a number of deputy superintendents of police were continuing on ad hoc basis and the last meeting of the committee was held in July 2000. This delay was affecting the morale of the officers, it said.

Besides a number of posts of additional superintendent of police (ASP) were vacant and no inductions had been made to this rank for the past three years. The deputation urged the Chief Minister to elevate the eligible officers to the rank of the ASP as it would not involve any additional expenditure.

Engg students boycott exam, stage dharna
Our Correspondent

Kumarhatti, May 24
Students of Green Hills Engineering College near here have boycotted their internal examination today over the alleged highhandedness of the college management, poor basic facilities at the boys’ hostel and charging of heavy no dues fine. Only five of the 226 students appeared for the examination today while the remaining staged a dharna outside the college.

The five who appeared in examinations today have reportedly decided to boycott the examination from tomorrow and support the protesting students. Brig Upkar Singh Arora (retd), Principal of college, while categorically denying the boycott of exams by students, asserted that except a few all had appeared for the exam.

The boys have been on an indefinite fast for the past two days. The hostellers have levelled serious allegations against certain faculty members of the college for maltreating them whenever they raised their demands. All our demands to improve the basic amenities at the hostel have not been accepted despite assurances by the college management, said the agitating students. The hostel rooms were poorly maintained and food quality was poor, the students blamed. Due to this the hostel strength had come down from 91, last year, to 61 this year, they pointed.

The details of the fines were not provided to students and only a notice carrying the names of defaulters is pasted, the students added. The no-due fine was charged purely on the management’s discretion, they further alleged. Meanwhile, a few bad elements in the college were trying to spoil the atmosphere, the Principal maintained. A few students who were taking drugs and other intoxicants in the hostel were trying to bring a bad name to the college through their illogical and baseless allegations, asserted Principal.

Govt may ban katha substitute
Tribune News Service

Shimla, May 24
The Himachal Government may impose a ban on the use of “gambiar”, a substitute for katha, which is regarded a health hazard. This was stated by Mr Virbhadra Singh, Chief Minister, while presiding over a meeting of the state-level single-window clearance and monitoring authority here today. He said as the imported substitute was much cheaper, it was affecting the indigenous “katha industry”.

Besides, it could also cause serious ailments. He directed the officers concerned to examine the issue so that a decision could be taken in this regard.

The Chief Minister said an investment of Rs 442 crore had been ensured over the past two months in the industrial sector, which would help provide employment to 4,562 persons. In all, an employment potential of 96,388 jobs had been created in the state over the past one year.

The authority granted permission to 39 new industrial units, including those promoted by big business houses like Johnson and Johnson, Super Cassettes, Essel Propacks and Indo Farm Tractors.

Mr Virbhadra Singh said the government would not allow industries to come up at the cost of environment and new units would be encouraged in interior areas so that rural people could also derive benefits from industrialisation.

1,000 NCC girls to trek in Kufri
Tribune News Service

Shimla, May 24
Up to a thousand girls from all over the country are expected to participate in an all-India trekking expedition being organised by the National Cadet Corps (NCC) in the Kufri area, near here, from May 26.

Col A.S. Chachiot, Group Commander of the state unit of the NCC, said the main objective of the expedition was to develop a love for nature among young people and provide them an opportunity to learn about the flora, fauna and the culture of hills. They would also be given training in yoga and told of the importance of preserving forests and wildlife.

The girls would start arriving in batches at Kufri from today and after two days of acclimatisation set off for the expedition. They would trek 120 km in Kufri, Mashobra and Craignano area.

Gastroenteritis in Bhattiyat
Our Correspondent

Dalhousie, May 24
Residents of the Maloonda belt in Bhattiyat subdivision of Chamba district have been affected by gastroenteritis. Though a number of cases of vomiting and dysentery have been reported, the situation is under control. No casualty has been reported. 

Official sources said preventive measures had been taken. Doctors, along with paramedical staff, had visited the affected belt and provided medicines to patients.