Dharamsala, September 17
The number of Tibetan students admitted in hospitals here with suspected food poisoning today soared to 58, all of whom are reported to be in a stable condition.

Today 17 of these patients were discharged after they showed signs of improvement.

Doctors at the Dr Rajindra Prasad Zonal Medical College and Hospital and Delek Hospital, spent the day trying to confirm the cause of infection. Blood samples of those admitted to the Zonal Hospital were also taken.

While 43 students were brought to the Zonal Hospital, the Delek Hospital had 15 patients admitted in its wards.

Dr J.R.Azad, Medical Superintendent, Zonal Hospital, said that a team of doctors was working on establishing the cause and report is expected to be out soon.

Mr Sonam Choephel, in charge of the Tibetan Welfare Office, said fresh admissions to the hospitals had stopped and the problem seemed to have been contained, as no more cases were reported.

Mr Yonten Norby, principal of the Tibet Transit School said that it was still not confirmed how the infection spread among the students.

“Precautionary measures are being taken and the students have also been given preventive medicines today by a team of doctors from the Tibetan Medical Institution so that the infection is brought under control.

Palampur, September 17
A scam worth Rs 50 lakh has been unearthed in a local tea growers cooperative society, Kangra Valley Tea Planters Association, which looks after the supply of fertilisers and inputs to the local tea growers on subsidised rates.

The state government sanctioned these funds from time to time for the benefit of small and big tea growers of the area.

Speaking to mediapersons here today, Mr Sanjiv Gandhi, DSP, said the police had received complaints in this regard from the local Assistant Registrar, Cooperative Society, a few days ago and thereafter a case under Sections 406 and 409 had been registered against Partap Chand, Manager of the cooperative society.

Mr Gandhi said the preliminary investigations of documents revealed that funds sanctioned for the purchase of fertilisers and other inputs were misappropriated by the society to the tune of Rs 49 lakh, which had also been established by a special audit team of the Cooperative Department.

He said it was a matter of great surprise that out of Rs 90 lakh given by the state government, half the funds were misappropriated and no one in the Cooperative Department or office-bearers of the cooperative society bothered to look into matter.

He said the record of the cooperative society had revealed that no proper rules were followed while making purchases of fertilisers.

He said at the initial stage it could not be said that whether only manager was involved in the scam, but the involvement of other persons could not be ruled out since heavy amount of funds were involved in the scam.

Shimla, September 17
The body of Swedish national Margot Lydia Aulikki, recovered from Jot Glacier (20,000 ft) in the tribal district of Lahaul and Spiti, brought to Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) Hospital for forensic examination.

Forensic experts of the medical college have contested the identity of the Swedish woman from the documents recovered.

The experts are of the view that the dental chart of the body does not confirm the identity of the woman.

However, the photo affixed in the passport indicated her identity.

Hamirpur, September 17
Former Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal today denounced the decision of the UPA government to repeal POTA. He said the Act was formulated for curbing terrorism.

Talking to reporters here today, he said while on the one hand, the UPA was taking anti-people decisions, on the other hand, the Army Chief, General N.C. Vij, was still saying that the threat of terrorism persisted in Jammu and Kashmir and other parts of India.

He said if there was something wrong with the Act, it could have been amended.

The BJP leader welcomed the directive of the Supreme Court regarding the use of the National Flag. He said the Congress should be restrained from using the Tricolour, as its flag colours were similar to that of the National Flag.

He came down heavily on the Congress chief, Ms Sonia Gandhi, on the issue of the census figures. He said Mrs Gandhi had no authority to make comments that the government would examine the issue. He said such a statement should have come from the Prime Minister or the minister concerned. He feared that the Congress would try to manipulate the figures.

He justified the two-child norm for all elected representatives. He asked when the norm could be enforced for panchayati raj functionaries, why not for MPs and MLAs.

Prof Dhumal blasted the Congress government in the state for working on regional and lines. He demanded a white paper, including the name and parentage of the candidates selected for the posts of para-teacher, bus conductor and pharmacist in the department of Animal Husbandry.

The BJP leader demanded a CBI probe into the taking of loans by the HP Forest Corporation. He alleged norms were violated and no tenders were floated for the purpose.

He also demanded a probe into the construction of a dam in the Patlander area of the district by a contractor having links with the Congress. He alleged that as per initial reports, substandard material was used for the construction.

Kangra, September 17
The Revenue Minister of Himachal, Mr Sat Mahajan, said today that the computerisation of the revenue offices will be started on October 2.

Addressing a press conference here today in the Brajeshwari Devi temple office, he said computers would be installed in each revenue office by Gandhi Jayanti in the state up to the sub-tehsil level.

The minister said the common people would have access to their revenue records through a touch system by January, 2005.

A brain-storming meeting of all Deputy Commissioners and other revenue officers would be convened after the byelections, he added.

The meetings would be held at all gram sabha level to identify the beneficiaries under Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP).

Justifying allotting the Congress ticket to Neeraj Bharti, son of Prof. Chander Kumar MP, for Guler assembly byelection, Mr Mahajan said. ‘’It is the culture of the Congress’’.

He said age was no criteria in politics and Mr Virbhadra Singh was the youngest MP of the country at the age of 25 year and one month.

Mr Mahajan, who is the party coordinator for the Guler byelection poll, said development was the only poll plank. — UNI

Mandi, September 17
Barring a few success stories, most of the 1,624 Eco-clubs started in the state since September 2001 have yet to take off.

“It comes from within. If the missionary zeal comes, it becomes a passion”, says Mr Sita Ram Verma, a Shastri at Government High School, Mundroo, and head of an eco-club that has got a state award for creating environment awareness among students and the panchayat.

Talking to The Tribune on the sidelines of workshop for teachers of eco-clubs organised by the State Council Science, Technology and Environment (SCSTE) here, Mr Verma said they learnt the tips at workshops and applied those at the school.

“Why the other eco-clubs are not doing well, is because teachers do not give time and motivate students to spread awareness about clean and green environment in the school and home”, he feels.

Dr Subhash Gupta, a senior scientist at the (SCSTE), said: “Matiana School in Theog, and the high school in Solan, Mundroo and Galma in Mandi are examples of how missionary zeal of teachers can produce good results.

The government gives Rs 1,000 for each eco-club every year to encourage clean environment in school and its surroundings.

Deputy Commissioner Ali Raza Rizvi has urged the teachers and workshop organisers to hold the seminars in villages.

“To widen the scope of literacy, the Forest Department is awarding schools for the best plantation work that sustains clean and green environment in schools and villages”, he said.

Officials said the school which sends a proposal about its achievement gets Rs 5,000 for the club. “The National Green Corps is being trained on the lines of the NCC so that villagers drink clean water, and live in a healthy environment.

Mr Bhupinder Pathania from an NGO working with the Mandi Saksharta Samiti and Jan Vikas Samiti said: We are preparing a calendar for the eco-clubs for every month. The idea is to make the eco-clubs proactive.

Kulu, September 17
Pomegranate Day was celebrated at the Regional Horticulture Research Station, Bajura, of the Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, in collaboration with the National Horticulture Board, about 15 km from here, today.

As many as 300 farmers from different parts of the district participated, inaugurating the function, S.S. Negi, Vice-Chancellor, Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Naunu, Solan, said that diversification was the only way to raise the economic status of the farming community through different crops.

He said the research station here has introduced promising varieties of pomegranate and recommended kandhari kabuli, kandhari hansi, and ganesh for the commercial cultivation in most parts of this district which have been successful.

The farmers were generating income out of it, he added. Mr Negi further said that eight new varieties have been introduced from rahuri, maharastra out of which mridula and arakta were performing better and after the research findings, some varieties will be introduced for cultivation.

He revealed that the research station at Bajaura was producing 15,000 fruit plants of pomegranate every year and distributing to farmers. Mr Negi also stressed that the farmers should diversify from the old methods of cultivation and crops in the lower region of the district and produce kiwi, strawberry, apple, pacan nut and plum in the area.

He called upon them to take technical knowledge and help from the research stations in the district. S.D. Sharma, Director, Extension Education, highlighted the research and extension activities of the University.

Later, Mr Negi planted a sapling of ganesh variety of pomegranate at the station and released a book entitled “Himachal Mein Anar Ki Safal Kheti”.

Mr Negi also gave away the prizes for best produce of pomegranate. Baldev Singh and Jai Krishan Sharma were awarded first prize for kandhari kabuli and kandhari hansi varieties, respectively.

Shimla, September 17
Almost six months after five Independents were inducted as associate members of the Congress Legislative Party (CLP), the BJP has filed a petition before the Speaker of the Himachal Vidhan Sabha seeking their disqualification from the House under the Anti-Defection Law.

The party today filed five separate petitions through Mr Ravinder Ravi, its Chief Whip, praying for the disqualification of Mr Rakesh Verma (Theog), Mr Sohan Lal, (Kusumpti), Mr Subhash Manglait (Chopal), Dr Biru Ram (Gheharwin) and Mr Kuldeep Pathania (Bhatiyat), who were elected to the Vidhan Sabha in March, 2003, as Independents but became associate members of the CLP on March 14, 2004.

The Tenth Schedule incorporated by 52nd Constitutional Amendment Act clearly laid down that an Independent member would be liable for disqualification if he joins any other political party or loses his independent character.

Further, as per the records of the Vidhan Sabha an associate member was for all intents and purposes as good a member as a legislator elected on the symbol of that party. He abides by the directions of the party leadership. By inducting Independents as associate members the very purpose of the amendment had been defeated.

Shimla, September 17
The Himachal Government has constituted a state-level committee for the protection and registration of traditional items like Kullu shawls on the basis of geographical indications (GI) and related issues.

The Secretary, Science and Technology, will be the chairman of the committee which will have the member-secretary of the State Council for Science Technology and Environment, the Principal Chief Conservator of Forest, the Director of Industries, the Director of Agriculture, the Director of Horticulture, the Director of Ayurveda, the Director of Food and Supplies, the Director of Languages, Art and Culture, representatives of manufacturers of Geographical Indications and two expert nominees from scientific institutions in the field concerned. Dr S.S. Chandel, Principal Scientific Officer and Co-ordinator of the State Patent Information Centre, will be the convener.

Shimla, September 17
Mr Arvind Kaul, a former Chief Secretary, was sworn in as the Chairman of the HP Public Service Commission (HPPSC).

Mr V.S. Kokje, Governor, administered the oath of office and secretary to Mr Kaul at a simple but impressive ceremony at Raj Bhavan.

Mrs Asha Kumari, Education Minister, Mr Raj Krishan Kaur, Agriculture Minister, Mr Shamsher Singh, Chief Secretary, Mr A.K. Puri, Director-General of Police, members of the HPPSC, Dr L.R. Verma, Vice-Chancellor of Himachal Pradesh University, and senior officers of the state government were present on the occasion.