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5.20 lakh tonnes of apple
produced in Himachal
Exposed Dhumal indulging
in mudslinging: ministers
4 pc DA for HP school education board staff
Dhalpur ground impure for gods, say caretakers
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Sesquicentennial celebrations from October 28
Seminar on peace opens
Low female sex ratio worries experts Illegal clinics: two quacks booked
1 killed, 2 hurt as vehicle falls into gorge
Truck accident toll 8
Illegal filling of LPG cylinders detected
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5.20 lakh tonnes of apple
produced in Himachal
Shimla, October 27 It is for the first time that the production has crossed the 5-lakh tonne mark. The harvesting season is almost over and until Monday 2.56 crore apple boxes, including 43,000 tonne of fruit procured under the market intervention scheme, have been marketed. The season will officially come to a close on October 31 and the final production figure was likely to touch the 5.25-lakh tonne. The horticulture department expected the production to be slightly less than last year’s 4.54 lakh tonne but it exceeded the figure by 70,000 tonne. The production crossed the 4-lakh tonne mark only last year. The previous highest production was recorded in 1998 when 3.95 lakh tonne of apple was produced. Normally, a bumper crop is followed by a lean harvest as the orchards in the state have been recording alternate bearing. However, last two seasons have been exceptional ones. In 2002 the state produced 3.49 lakh tonne of apple, followed by 4.54 lakh tonne in 2003. However, instead of the expected lean season the state had a bumper crop for the third successive year. This was in spite of the fact that the weather conditions have not been very conducive. The state reeled under a drought from February to May and even the monsoon was deficient by 45 per cent. A remarkable feature for the growers has been that despite the record production the rates were higher than last year all through the season. The average return has been Rs 290 per box as against Rs 270 per box last year. One of the main reasons for good returns was that unlike other years, when 80 per cent of the fruit was disposed of in Delhi market, the growers explored new markets. A large quantity of fruit was sold off at Chandigarh, Solan, Dhalli and Rohru as a result of which there was no fruit glut in Delhi during the peak season. The quality of apple, except that of the lower hills, which was affected by drought, was also reasonably good. Unlike last year there was no shortage of packing materials or trucks and despite the 10-day long truckers strike the growers did not face any problems in marketing their produce, which was quite commendable. A new trend was witnessed with buyers from as far as Varanasi ,Lucknow and Bihar coming to Rohru and Chopal to purchase the fruit directly from the growers. During peak season 8,000 to 10,000 boxes of apples were sold in Rohru daily. The new trend will reduce the dependence of the growers on ‘arhtias’ of Delhi who have been exploiting them in every possible manner. |
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Exposed Dhumal indulging
in mudslinging: ministers
Shimla, October 27 The minister for Industries, Mr Kuldeep Kumar, and the Animal Husbandry minister, Mr Harsh Mahajan, in a joint statement issued here today said Mr Dhumal had misused his official position to secure the two petrol stations in Jalandhar at the cost of deserving poor and the apex court had given a clear verdict in the case. They asked him to clarify his position. The petrol station scam was not the only instance of nepotism and favouritism, Mr Dhumal had violated and manipulated all rules and norms to make his son president of the state cricket association. They alleged that Mr Dhumal, who stood exposed in the wake of the Supreme Court verdict, was indulging in mudslinging and making unfounded accusations against the government. While in power he spent all his time and energy in fabricating false cases against Mr Virbhadra Singh, the then Leader of Opposition. Even now he was levelling false allegations against him to mislead the people. There was no truth in the charge made by Mr Dhumal that Mr Virbhadra Singh’s land had been acquired for the Nathpa Jhakri project. Not even a single inch of the land had either been acquired or sold for the project. The two ministers came down heavily on Mr Dhumal for blaming the Congress government for the financial crisis. They said large-scale unplanned borrowings and rampant corruption prevailed during his tenure as the Chief Minister. The present government had taken several steps to clear the financial mess created by the previous regime and also secured a special plan assistance of Rs 563 crore, the highest ever package given to the state, from the Centre. They maintained that there was no comparison between the Guler and Baijnath Assembly byelections. The Baijnath byelection was held six months after the death of Mr Sant Ram, the then Forest minister, whereas the wife of a BJP candidate in Guler died three days before polling. |
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4 pc DA for HP school education board staff
Dharamsala, October 27 Addressing a press conference, Board Chairman B.R. Rahi said besides looking into the academic requirements of the course, the board would also make sure that the private institutes had proper infrastructure and staff. It was also decided by the council to enhance the amount of scholarships to students by 50 per cent for securing good marks in board examination. It also decided to give 4 per cent dearness allowance to employees of the board. The government had notified that boards and corporations could offer DA to their employees, depending on their financial health. “Since the board is reasonably well-off, the council took the decision. There would be an additional financial burden of Rs 12 lakh due to the hike in scholarship amount and the DA,” said Mr
Rahi. |
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Dhalpur ground impure for gods, say caretakers
Dobhi (Kulu), October 27 Talking to The Tribune these kardars revealed that this slot had been allotted to the gods who represent the erstwhile state of Kot Dham, the pure land of the Rajputs, where only the writs of Jamlu or Jamadgni rishi ran ever since he chose Malana village as his residence. The legend of Athara Kararu was born thus giving birth to valley’s 365 gods. Though these kardars visit Dhalpur and the erstwhile residence of the Kulu state, but they consider it ‘impure as the real seat of Athara Kararu lies in Naggar Koti, Malana, which is governed by the Jamlu devta. The five devtas who are camping here include Jamlu Malana, Shugli Nag, Tandla, near Naggar, Sarval Nag, Saur, near Naggar, Aajmal, Seul, and Jeev Narayan from the Jana village, all located on the left bank Kulu. In the past over 31 gods used to camp here, but now only five kardars still maintain their gods and consider their participation in the Raghunath Yatra as polluting because of crowd. Even during the ancient times, these 31 gods from Citing a 150 year old story that still is passed on from generation to generation of the kardars, he (kardar)said: “The then raja of Kulu to assert his authority asked the kardar of Jamlu devta to disclose his income but he refused and ended his life by jumping into the Beas 150 years ago. At this queen turned blind and king allotted this spot here as he saw some light here from Dhalpur Maidan”. Even today no visitor is allowed to touch Jamlu Temple in Malana as every stranger is a potential polluter, said Shukru, the kardar of the devta. “No true devotee of the Jamlu violate its code of conduct that is binding and none-negotiable for the villagers”. Though the four of the devtas have brought their musical instrument as symbol with them, but Jamlu devta kardars have brought one ‘karchi’ as sacred symbol of the devta. It is as powerful as the idols that you see at Dhalpur, believed Jalam Kaisth, a kardar of Jeev Narayan. The Kulu Dasehra
Committee has given the devtas free ration and other items but they still have to register with the committee before participating in the week-long Dashera. “These devtas never come to Dhalpur maidan as a tradition and pay no revenue”, said committee officials. |
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Wheat flour not good for fish
RENUKA: Offering too much wheat flour, biscuits and other such foodstuff to fish is not a healthy practice, say biologists. This not only pollutes water bodies, especially lakes, but also threatens water organisms.
A large number of fish die, every year particularly during fairs, when devotees feed them for good luck. A visit to the Renuka wetlands, near Nahan, reveals that devotees perform rituals by offering flowers and eatables to the fish. Pollution aggravates during the state-level Renuka fair held annually after Divali. During the seven-day fair, devotees take a holy dip in the lake and perform religions ceremonies. Prof M.S. Johal of the Department of Zoology, Panjab University, Chandigarh, says since most starchy items are not eaten by fish, this results in pollution and growth of micro-organism in the water body. Pollution depletes dissolved oxygen in water, suffocating the organisms. In March, thousands of fish reportedly died due to overfeeding and pollution at a fair held at the Rewalsar lake in Mandi district. Wheat flour balls, which contain protein, are not the natural fish diet. Overfeeding can also affect their digestive system, Prof Johal says, adding that fish prefer raw food material. The Renuka wetlands support seven species of fish, including mahseer, snake head, common carp and snow trout. Dr Kuldip Kumar, Adviser, Fisheries, Himachal Government, says the government should restrict devotees from feeding fish. Arrangements should be made to provide devotees with artificial feed in the form of balls having compressed air. It keeps floating and ultimately consumed by fish. |
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Sesquicentennial celebrations from October 28
Dalhousie, October 27 According to Mr Rahul Anand, Deputy Commissioner of Chamba, who is also the chairman of the Dalhousie Sesquicentennial Celebration Committee, various sub-committees have been constituted for the smooth conduct of the celebrations. Food festival, exhibition and military band, etc would be special attractions of the event. The main cultural nights are scheduled to be held on October 29 and 30 when a “hasya kavi sammelan” and Punjabi folk singer Mika Mehandi would give their performance. Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh is expected to be the chief guest on the concluding day. |
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Seminar on peace opens
Shimla, October 27 These were the view expressed by Prof D.P. Chattopadhyaya, a former Union Minister at the inaugural address of a seminar on “India in the 21st century and the idea of peace: special reference to Gandhi, Nehru and Marx” being organised at the Indian Institute of Advanced Studies. He is currently the chairperson of Centre for Studies in Civilisations. He has also remained the president-cum-chairman of the Indian Institute of Advanced Studies from 1981 to 1991. “Power imposed peace cannot and did not last for long anywhere in the world,” he remarked. Dr Chattopadhyaya, said peace which was not borne out of a deep and internal yearning for it and was imposed from outside could never be real. The chairman of the India International Centre, Dr Kapila Vatsayana, pointed out that when the question of truth was interpreted in terms of official orthodoxy, common people were bound to become skeptical about the religious and ideological interpretations. Eminent scholars from the field of sociology, philosophy, political science and literature were attending the three-day seminar. Prominent among those attending the seminar included, Prof Yogendra Singh, Adi H. Doctor S. Settar, Bhrati Ray, Daya Krishan, D.N. Banerjee, D.N. Tripathi, Satya P. Gautam and P.K. Singh. |
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Low female sex ratio worries experts Kasauli, October 27 Addressing representatives of the Indian Association of Parliamentarian Population and Development at a seminar on population growth, HIV/AIDS and women empowerment at Kasauli resorts, near here, she said that the commission had undertaken the task of ensuring that the state’s women were not bereft of their rights. Earlier, while inaugurating the seminar, Mr Sat Mahajan, Minister for Panchayati Raj and Revenue, stressed the need for people’s participation in achieving targets set under the National Population Policy, 2000. About 50 delegates from various states like Jharkhand, Orissa, Chhatisgarh, Uttar Pradesh and Uttaranchal are participating in the two-day seminar which is being organised by the State Women’s Rights Commission. Mr Mahajan, while elaborating about the health policy, said that India was the first nation in the world which had taken the lead in implementing family welfare measures to ensure a commensurate growth of population with the nation’s economy. While giving details of his department activities later, he said that a separate engineering wing for the development of rural development was being worked out. At least three junior engineers would be recruited in each development block to ensure efficient implementation of such projects, he said. To improve the working of the Panchayati Raj institutions, one secretary would be appointed to look after three panchayats.
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Illegal clinics: two quacks booked Solan, October 27 Mr Dhiman who had been receiving several complaints of quacks operating in the area conducted a surprise checking. Paramjit Singh, from Chanoli village in Anandpur Sahib, who claimed to be a medical practitioner possessing a bachelor of electro-homeo sciences qualification was operating a gagan clinic at Jharmajri. He could produce no valid degree in the medical profession. Another Jaipal Chauhan from Sambarr village in Ambala, was running a Kalpana Clinic at Jharmajri, where his wife Sudesh Bala was treating people as a lady specialist. While Jaipal Chauhan was arrested last evening his wife was not available at the clinic. The two claimed to possess fake registration number 181 but lacked any basic qualification. Mr Dhiman expressed concern at the mushrooming quackery, and said the department had taken a serious note of such bogus doctors. The campaign he said would continue to book more quacks in the area.
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1 killed, 2 hurt as vehicle falls into gorge
Dalhousie, October 27 The ASP said here today that the deceased was identified as Sukhvinder Singh, a resident of Amritsar. The body of the deceased was handed over to his family members. Rajinder Singh, driver of the vehicle, was admitted to the Civil Hospital, Dalhousie, while Jasminder Singh was referred to the PGI, Chandigarh. Both of them also belonged to Amritsar. |
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Truck accident toll 8
Shimla, October 27 Sirmour district police chief S.R. Sharma said Roop Singh, a resident of Bandali village, died late last night at Rajgarh hospital, while Jalam Singh, a resident of Bodh village, succumbed to his injuries at Solan hospital this morning. He said six labourers died on the spot, while 30 others, who sustained seriously injuries, were admitted to a hospital at Rajgarh and 11 of them were shifted to the District Hospital, Solan, late last night.
— UNI |
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Illegal filling of LPG cylinders detected
Dharamsala, October 27 According to sources, the department had been keeping an eye on Gagan Da Dhaba where the cylinders were being refilled for nearly a week. Last night, a team led by Inspector Pratap raided the dhaba. A total of 56 cylinders were seized of which 19 had been filled again using pipes and fake seals. The filled cylinders were being allegedly sold in remote villages on the border of Himachal and Punjab for up to Rs 290 each. Three trucks with Punjab registration numbers were impounded. |
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