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Minjar Fair showcases culture
Disillusioned, doctors plan to quit govt jobs
Kol Dam oustees want jobs, rehabilitation
Bali’s term for facing CBI probe
Transport workers seek new transport policy
4 killed, 13 hurt in mishap
HP promotes medicinal plant cultivation
Transfer of forest will save green cover
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Forest cover declines
Soil erosion a threat to Chamba town
HP directive to hydroelectric projects
School board told to pay
compensation
Hundreds attend Kafota mahasabha
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Minjar Fair showcases culture
Chamba, July 24 The Governor said Himachal Pradesh was a treasurehouse of varied cultures and was endowed with rich cultural heritage even when there was materialistic race all around. The Governor said that he was delighted to inaugurate the fair for the third consecutive year. The Governor said the fair was not only based on emotions but also on age-old traditions of this region replete with an abundant scenic beauty. The Minjar Fair was still maintaining the prominence of unique and high traditions of the fair and festivals of the hill state. He hoped that the fair might head towards gaining prominence at the international level and bring all-round development with a bumper crop to the region. The Governor also declared Minjar sports tournaments open amidst singing of ‘Kunjari Malhar’ (folk songs of this alpine region). Later, he inaugurated the exhibition of government departments and non-government organisations displaying their developmental activities. Mr Harsh Mahajan, Animal Husbandary and Urban Development Minister, Mr Kuldip Pathania, Chairman, Himachal Pradesh Finance Commission and Mr Surinder Bhardwaj, MLA, were also present on this occasion. Earlier, Mr Pushpendra Rajput, Chairman of the International Minjar Fair Celebration Committee, accompanied by other officials, dignitaries and citizens of Chamba offered holy minjars (golden hue of maize blossoms) at the local historic Lakshmi Narayan and Raghuvira temples. The Minjar fair is held in the month of Sawan, which heralds the beginning of ‘kunjadi-malhaar’ folk songs during the fair here in the Chamba region praying to rain God Varuna for heavy rain for good harvest of their kharif crops. The fair would conclude on July 31 with the immersion of minjars in the Ravi river. More than one lakh visitors, including tourists from home and abroad, are expected to participate in the weeklong fair. According to legend, the Minjar fair dates to the tenth century. It marks the victory of King Sahila Varma over the King of Kangra. The defeated King presented blossoms of maize and paddy to King Sahila Varma. Another legend has it that a sage in the Champavati temple on the bank of the Ravi performed a weeklong yajna that changed the course of the river. This enabled the people to visit the Hari Rai temple across the Ravi. Renowned playback singers of the cine world like Jolly Mukerjee, Vaishali Sawant, Babul Supriyo, Bali Brahm Bhatt, Punjabi heart-throb Jasbir Jassi and quawal Kanchan Bhartri would give their concerts during cultural nights of the fair. Folk artistes from different parts of Himachal Pradesh who would also perform their traditional musical entertainment during Minjar nights. |
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Disillusioned, doctors plan to quit govt jobs
Dharamsala, July 24 Although sources in the Health Department say a move was afoot to effect a hike in the salaries of doctors, the fact that there has been no clear statement from the government on the issue is making the doctors restless. Talking to The Tribune, Dr Ajay Dutta, general secretary of the Himachal Medical Officers’ Association, said there were already no takers for the posts of specialists in the government sector. Those employed on contract basis seem all set to quit in case the government does not effect a hike in the pay packages. “Around 21 doctors on contract have recently quit in the state. Some of them have even moved out of Himachal,” he said. “Hardly any applications were received for the 22 posts of postgraduate doctors advertised by the government sometime back and there is an acute shortage of gynaecologists, orthopaedics and paediatricians even at the district level hospitals, what to talk of the health centres in the interiors,” he added. Requesting anonymity, a fresh MBBS pass-out said after the contract system was introduced in the state in 2002, a new recruit gets a package of Rs 12,000, without any dearness allowance or medical reimbursement and the package of a specialist is fixed at Rs 16,000. “Besides, he has to pay income tax and professional tax. The in-hand amount is much less than what doctors get in Punjab and Haryana,” he said. The doctors have been demanding the regularisation of their services, increase in the pay package from Rs 12,000 to Rs 16,000 and the grant of postgraduate increments to all postgraduate doctors so that they could work with more interest. Meanwhile, sources in the Health Department said a proposal to increase the remuneration of MBBS doctors from Rs 12,000 to Rs 16,000 and specialists from Rs 16,000 to Rs 25,000 was being worked out. The financial implications were being looked into and a decision was expected soon to avoid any crisis. There was also a move to appoint more specialists on contract basis, said an official. Dr Naresh Gupta, Senior Medical Officer with Dr Rajendra Prasad Medical College and Hospital, said silence of the government was making the doctors restless. “While some doctors have resigned, many more, especially specialists, are all set to put in their papers as they are getting good offers from private institutes,” he said. “A deserving gynaecologist, who draws Rs 16,000 in government service, can easily join a private hospital and get up to Rs 75,000 for the same job. After the introduction of the contract system, there is also no job security,” said Dr Dutta. |
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Kol Dam oustees want jobs, rehabilitation
Mandi, July 24 The oustees said here today that the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) which is executing the project had failed to check over contractors, from reckless blasting at the dam site as it, posed health and ecological hazards at Jamthal and in the surrounding villages. “Even the plots have developed cracks due to landslides as the NTPC has not properly cut and developed the plots”, rued the oustees. “We requested the state government to look into the problems of the oustees including employing them in the project, but to no avail”, complained Mr Ram Babu Kaundal, Pardhan, Kasol panchayat, which has the largest number of the oustees. The oustees complained that the NTPC had acquired the land, rendering them landless and homeless, but their rehabilitation is going on a snail’s pace. “Only a few people have been allotted plots. Colonies at Sunni, Mangal and Kasol are yet to be earmarked or developed. Over 10-15 plots at Jamthal have developed cracks”, said Mr Kaundal. Though the oustees should be given preference in employment on the project, but the NTPC contractors have been ignoring them, whether as skilled or unskilled labourers in the project, rued the oustees. Even the state government has not allotted the land at Kasol for the rehabilitation of the oustees of Kasol, said the oustees, demanding jobs in the project. “Over 70 per cent of jobs should be given to the oustees, who have been rendered landless and homeless”, said Kaudal, who is also the representative of the Oustees Welfare Rehabilitation Committee. Refuting the charge of the oustees as exaggerated ones, Mr R.B. Pathak, AGM, Kol dam claimed that only a couple of plots had developed cracks, which are being repaired by the contractors. On the blasting menace for surroundings villagers at dam site Mr Pathak said that they had experts to conduct the blasts, who monitor blasting on the seismograph. “We have to cut a high rocky area through the blasting, which has done no recorded damage in the villages”, he explained. Mr Pathak claimed that the Kol dam had employed over 60 per cent of work force from Himachal at various levels, which is highest as compared with the Parbati and even Larji projects. “There is no specific provision that 70 per cent of jobs would be given to the oustees. The oustees are employed if they have required qualification”, he clarified. |
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Bali’s term for facing CBI probe
Dharamsala, July 24 Addressing a press conference, he said the BJP leaders, who have been raising the same issues repeatedly, were taking his silence as his weakness. “But if
they are honest, they should permit a time-bound CBI inquiry against them before the next elections,” he said. In fact, he said, he should not be asked to furnish the accounts of the Mumbai Musical Blast, which had featured music director Jatin-Lalit and dance groups, as it had been organised by an event management company and all resources were also generated by it. “As no sale or entertainment tax was to be deposited, the tickets were printed without serial numbers. Out of the 10,800 tickets, half were for Rs 50. In spite of low collections from the sale of tickets, Rs 31 lakh was contributed to the CM’s relief fund,” he said. Reminding Mr Nadda of his tenure as the Health Minister, he said three directors of his time suspended as huge irregularities were made in the purchases for the Health Department. In addition, overlooking the qualified doctors from the state, outsiders with forged degrees were obliged. On Mr Krishan Kapoor, Mr Bali alleged that he was served a notice by the HRTC to return the office articles taken by him for use during his tenure as the Transport Minister. “He has not returned these articles till now. A case has also been registered against him for kidnapping women members of the Zila Parishad and he even used government vehicles for this purpose,” he said. |
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Transport workers seek new transport policy
Nurpur, July 24 In a written statement, Mr Rajnesh Sharma, national secretary, INTWF, and state INTUC general secretary, said here yesterday that the new policy should be formulated after consultation with various transport worker unions so that public transport industries in the states could be made self-reliant. Emphasising the need for making viable the state transport industries, Mr Sharma said that the Central Government should render a special financial assistance for the infrastructure of public transport industries of the states and bear the losses incurred by the industries while fulfilling the social obligations. Underlining the necessity of bringing uniformity in the public transport industries in the country, he demanded to check the plying of private buses and light vehicles illegally in inter-state and state routes. “The government should amend the existing Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, for incorporating more and stringent clauses to curb the menace of illegal plying of private vehicles as public transport. |
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4 killed, 13 hurt in mishap
Palampur, July 24 According to information a bus (HP 37-4272) was on its way from Palampur to Gwal Tikkar. When it was about to reach at its destination, the driver of the bus, while negotiating a sharp curve, lost control and bus fell into a deep gorge. Two persons were killed on the spot while two others died on way to hospital. An injured who was travelling in the ill-fated bus told The Tribune that poor visibility and heavy rain was the cause of the accident. He said the wipers on the wind screen were not functioning, so the driver was finding it difficult to drive the bus on the hill rock. He said there was a sharp curve which driver could not foresee. Those killed have been identified as Meda Ram, a BJP leader and former chairman of the Baijnath Block Samiti, Nirmala Devi, her son Sunny and Nirmohi Ram. All injured have been admitted to the local Civil Hospital and Zonal Hospital,
Dharmshala. |
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HP promotes medicinal plant cultivation
Shimla, July 24 The varied agro-climatic conditions of the state are most suitable for the cultivation of high-valued medicinal plants which are in great demand in the pharmaceutical industry. The Ayurvedic Department has prepared proposals for the propagation of such plants under which basic seed and planting material will be provided to farmers. The National Medicinal Plants Board has also sanctioned two projects for the propagation of high-valued medicinal plants and another project of production of nucleus planting material had been approved by the Central Potato Research Institute. The department has established herbal gardens, under different agro-climatic zones in the state to carry out research and development. More than 217 species of medicinal plants have been raised for demonstration purposes at the Jogindernagr herbal garden. It is developing agro-techniques for the cultivation of the medicinal plants. A herbanium has also been established at Jogindernager to preserve the specimen of medicinal plants systematically and scientifically. It is being upgraded and is emerging as a centre for imparting training. As many as 440 herbal specimens and 5030 herbanium sheets are being maintained to save plants from insects and pests. Farmers’ training camps are being organised at various places for creating awareness about the identification, cultivation, conservation and utility of medicinal plants in the state. The department has acquired 28 acres at Neri in Hamirpur for establishing a herbal garden under sub-tropical conditions. Dhumrera in Shimla district also has a herbal garden catering to the needs of the temperate wet agro-climatic zone. The main focus of the garden is on growing high-valued endangered species of temperate medicinal plants. The government has set up a board on the pattern of the National Medicinal Plant Board to guide the programme for the propagation and preservation of medicinal plants. So far, 21 project proposals under promotional schemes worth Rs 3 crore and seven contractual farming projects of Rs 19 lakh have been sanctioned by the National Medicinal Plant Board on the recommendation of the State Medicinal Plant Board. The Ayurvedic Department has also received financial assistance of Rs 48 lakh for its three projects sanctioned by the national board. This has helped the state earn revenue, besides bringing more land under cultivation of medicinal plants. The Vanaspati Van Pariyojna has been started in collaboration with the Forest Department and Government of India for raising nurseries of select species of medicinal plants in Chamba and Kulu districts. The main purpose of the scheme is to establish vanaspati van on denuded forest land for the development of high-valued medicinal plants. Under the scheme, 19 high-valued species of high altitude medicinal plants are being conserved and cultivated through nursery development. The Forest Development has cultivated medicinal plants over 27 hectares in the two districts. Land in the eco-development area of the Great Himalayan National Park is also being put to use for this purpose. |
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Transfer of forest will save green cover
Shimla, July 24 The move has not come a day too soon. The corporation has miserably failed in protecting the once impeccable green cover. Over the years a large number of trees have been felled and encroachers are having a field day. Saving trees have been the last concern of the councillors whose priorities are dictated by electoral politics. Over the past one decade more than 5,000 trees have been axed and as many as 916 cases of encroachment on forest land have been recorded. Most of the illegal shanties have also come up in forest areas. The councillors consider the illegal occupants as voters and not encroachers. The total forest area under the corporation is 1856.52 hectares. While the reserve Dhalli catchment forest spread over 1015 hectares has been well stocked, the 832 hectares of municipal forest is in bad shape. All encroachments and felling has taken place in the municipal forest. The rhododendron are vanishing and the aging deodars are drying up but the corporation has been least concerned. The lackadaisical attitude of the authorities and the extent to which the forests were being neglected could be judged from the fact that the working plan which expired in 1984 has not been revised till date. Without a working plan the forest cannot be managed on scientific lines. The fencing of well-preserved forests carried out under the NORAD project had also not been maintained. No visible effort had been made to raise new plantations. The Forest Department has already finalised a plan so that effective measures could be taken as soon as the control of municipal forests is transferred to it. Besides repair of fencing and removing encroachments on a war footing , it also proposes to raise new plantations in denuded areas. In fact, the plan will be put into action even before the formal transfer of the area and some saplings will be planted during the current monsoon. It has also been decided to post requisite staff in the working plan division to ensure that new plan is prepared at the earliest. |
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Forest cover declines
Shimla, July 24 The latest report of the Forest Survey of India based on digital satellite imageries reveals that the dense forest cover (with a tree density of more than 40) has come down from 10,429 sq km in 2001 to 8,976 sq km in 2003. There is no change in the overall forest cover as the area under open forest (with a tree density of 10 to 40) has increased by 1,446 sq km. The scrub forest (with tree density up to 10) has also declined by 177 km whereas non-forest tree cover has increased by 184 sq km. The overall forest cover of 14,353 sq km comes to 25.78 per cent of the total geographical area of the hill state. The forest along with tree cover (non-forest) adds to 14,844 sq km which accounts for 26.66 per cent of the state’s area. As per the national forest policy two-thirds of the total area has to be under forests. |
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Soil erosion a threat to Chamba town
Chamba, July 24 The earthquake, which hit Chamba town and its suburbs on March 24, 1995, had posed a serious hazard to the safety of human beings and many buildings constructed in these areas. Several buildings of these vicinities had developed cracks. Geologists have suggested to strengthen the stability of vertical hill slopes along its bed from top to bottom to prevent further soil erosion. This may be done by constructing a “drop channel” along the vertical slope to drain out the wastewater from the affected localities. A well-planned system of housing construction is also required to cope with the natural hazards like earthquakes. |
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HP directive to hydroelectric projects
Shimla, July 24 A notification issued under the Environment Protection Act in this regard also provides for stringent punishment, including fine and imprisonment, for contravention of the order. It lays down that the existing hydroelectric projects and those to come up in future will have to maintain a minimum discharge at a threshold level of 10 per cent of the input discharge in the river. |
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School board told to pay
compensation
Nurpur, July 24 According to the complaint, the board had failed to issue a marks sheet to the passed student in time. The delay of about one year in issuing the marks sheet to the daughter of the complainant resulted in wastage of one year of academic session. The forum directed the board to deposit the compensation and the litigation amount within 30 days, failing which it would carry an interest of 9 per cent per annum. |
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Hundreds attend Kafota mahasabha
Nahan, July 24 The meeting was convened by the Azad Yuva Morcha to press for the acceptance of their demand for the opening of a degree college at Kafota. The morcha was formed by youths of the Kafota and Naida Aar area last month after the Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh, announced the opening of a degree college at Shillai on June 22. They alleged that the local Congress leadership had made a promise that a degree college would be opened at Kafota. The meeting was addressed by several youth leaders who alleged that the development of the Naida Aar area was ignored. |
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