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Bumper apple crop expected this year
BJP urges Governor to remove VC
Project on medicinal plants launched
New drug haven in Mandi district
Staff shortage plagues town planning dept
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7,000 new houses to be built
Plan to
develop Bilaspur approved
Truckers’ union office sealed
Demand to set up Manimahesh trust
Man kicks pregnant
wife to death
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Bumper apple crop expected this year
Shimla, August 21 The number of trucks leaving the state to various markets is increasing with each passing day and as many as 475 trucks of apple left various destination on Tuesday. So far 11,290 trucks have moved out of the state as compared to 17,186 trucks during the same period the last season. In all 38,24.946 boxes of apples have been sent out as against 61,67,436 boxes last year. The hill state is heading for a bumper crop for the fourth consecutive year and the production was likely to be 2.53 crore, 10 lakh boxes short of the last years record output of 2.63 crore boxes. However, the number of boxes exported so far is much less because of incessant heavy rain during the last week of June and the first half of July delayed harvesting. The overcast skies and rain not only delayed ripening but also affected the colour of the fruit. The growers waited for the fruit to acquire the red tinge, which ensures a good return. Besides, in most areas where the crop was heavy the size of the fruit also remained on the lower side. It also forced the growers to delay plucking of fruit. Normally, the harvesting peaks around August 15 but and is completed by the first week of September, except for the tribal area of Kinnaur. This year the harvesting season was likely to extend up to September 20. The prices have been higher than last year in the Delhi market. The medium grade royal variety is fetching Rs 700 to Rs 750 per box as against Rs 540 to Rs 570 last year. |
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BJP urges Governor to remove VC
Shimla, August 21 Addressing a press conference here today, he alleged the police lathicharge on students on the university campus was a pre-meditated conspiracy to stall elections to the Central Students Association. He said it was the responsibility of the university authorities to maintain peace on the campus and create an atmosphere conducive to academic pursuits, besides ensuring that the democratic rights of the students were protected. “However, Dr Verma had been a complete failure as he had been working at the behest of the ruling party. He had committed large-scale irregularities and deserved to be removed for the post forthwith,” he said. He condemned the lathicharge in which media photographers also received blows and said the incident reflected the anti-democratic attitude of ruling party. He said the student wing of the Congress had no standing in the university and colleges and it was for this reason that it was resorting to such tactics to scuttle the elections. He said when those above 18 years had been conferred the right to vote in general elections, there was no point in curbing genuine democratic activity in the educational institutions. He demanded the resignation of Mr Virbhadra Singh, Chief Minister, in the wake of the high court verdict terming his action to appoint Chief Parliamentary Secretaries and Parliamentary Secretaries as illegal and unconstitutional. He said such appointments were against the spirit of the 91st constitutional amendment that was enacted with consensus. When asked about the Chief Parliamentary Secretaries and Parliamentary Secretaries appointed in BJP-ruled states, he said he was not aware of it. |
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Project on medicinal plants launched
Chamba, August 21 Designed to be a benchmark in the history of the hill state, the project would run for three years. Initially a sum of Rs 32.10 lakh has been earmarked for the project. The proposed area of this project falls in alpine Churah valley of Chamba district having 54109.35 hectare (541.10 sq. kms) area comprising about 90 per cent forestland between an altitude of 800 to 1800 metres. The flora comprises deodar, kail, fir, spruce, birch to alpine pastures. The people are poor and depend on forests for their day-to-day needs. A majority of the families, mainly poor ones, are using these forests for collection of medicinal herbs both for sale and domestic purpose. The main species of medicinal plants existing in this valley are Patrich (Aconitum Chasmanthus), Kaur (Picrorhiza Kurroa), Dhoop (Jurnea Macrocopiza), Patlain (Heracleum Candicans), Bhutkeshi (Selium Veginatum), Mushakbala (Valeriana Wallichii), Ban Kakri (Podoplyllum emodi), Salam Panja (Orchis Lotfolia), Kuth (Saussarea Leppa), Guchhi (Morchella Excupenta), Chukri (Riteum Emodi), Taxces Baceala (Barmi) and Abies (Spectaleiis). All these species of herbs of medicinal value grow naturally in this valley but over the years due to excessive and unscientific exploitation of these medicinal shrubs by the local people and the traders, most of these species are either rarely noticeable or have become extinct. The Churah valley has a great potential for enhancing the livelihood of the inhabitants by growing medicinal and aromatic plants of high value, which can be produced, collected, transported and exported easily from these difficult, secluded and inaccessible areas having practically no infrastructure facilities. Taking into account huge demand for herbal drugs and green medicines in the herbal drug industry, the production of medicinal plants has become indispensable. It is also the only source of health care for more than 80 per cent of rural population where modern drugs are not available due to high prices. According to the World Bank report 1996, herbal drug world scenario at present consists of international market of above 60 billions with an annual growth rate of 7 per cent. Likewise, as per the report of “task force on conservation and sustainable use of medicinal plants, March 2000” the herbal drug Indian scenario at present consists of annual Indian trade of Rs 1000 crore with annual export of Rs 446 crore and has the potential to increase the export to Rs 3000 crore by the end of this year. This can be achieved if endeavours are made on a large scale for conservation and development of medicinal plants. Through this project, efforts are being made to conserve and propagate medicinal plants in the Churah valley. According to Mr Avtar Singh, Conservator of Forests, Chamba, the forest department would carry out all works like raising of nurseries and raising of some demonstration plots at various locations in the valley. Eighteen self-help groups are being identified. Each group will consist of 10 to 15 members. The role of the forest department would be providing technical assistance and to explore suitable market with people’s participation.
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New drug haven in Mandi district
MANDI: The Didar-Chamaj area of Balichowki in Mandi district has emerged as a new drug haven for smugglers, who are also allegedly fund-raised for some politicians in Kulu-Mandi districts. Though the joint Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and the HP Police untouched a massive anti-cannabis drive in the Malana-Manikran-Tosh region, yet the Didar-Chamaj area remains untouched where the villagers are growing high-quality cannabis plants allegedly enjoying political patronage. Sources revealed that the smugglers were the fund-raisers for the politicians representing the Kullu-Banjar in Kullu district and Balichowki-Chachiyot and Chuhar valley, infamous for poppy cultivation, in Mandi district. The arrest of two smugglers Dharamdas and Abhiskek, who were selling the 68 kg charas consignment to the buyers at Khaneti village in the Balichowki area recently, revealed that the Chamaj-Didar had emerged as a big charas producing area. Significantly, the joint NCB-HP Police anti cannabis drive was launched in Kulu district, but the Mandi district remained untouched. As a result, the drug smugglers encouraged the innocent villagers to grow cannabis to produce charas in the remote area like Chamaj and Didar and upper reaches of the Malana valley where they have no other economic alternative, the sources informed. The sources revealed that the low-budge Israeli tourists made beeline for the Banjar, Manali-Malana and Manikaran, mostly because they found the cheap accommodation here. The arrest of Lion Avi Ben Moyul, an Israeli international smuggler, after the NCB ceased over 155 kg of chars from his possession at Chandigarh, revealed that the charas smugglers were protected by the state politicians, who had been promising the innocent villagers that they would legalise the cannabis cultivation in the area. The Superintendent of NCB, Mr O.P. Sharma, said the NCB did not launch the drive in Mandi from the police. The cannabis was cultivated in the Chamaj-Didar belt last year”, he informed. The Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG), Central Range, Mr O.C. Thakur, said and when the police got the specific information they spared none whether they were politicians or ordinary people.
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Staff shortage plagues town planning dept
Kumarhatti, August 21 The present available staff is under heavy work pressure. The worst affected is the Parwanoo TCP office, which has been functioning without an Assistant Town and Country Planner (ATCP) after Mr R.D. Sharma was transferred in August last. All powers of the ATCP were then delegated to the Planning Officer, who was also transferred in March this year. There is a total chaos in the office for the want of local authority. The files are piling up causing resentment among the public. The delay in approval of map for new constructions, getting NOC for electricity and water connections, approval of change in land use and sale of land have affected the industrial growth in the town. An official in Solan has been given the additional charge of Parwanoo. Though this arrangement has reduced some burden but routing of files through Solan was causing inordinate delay. The camp office of the Special Area Development Authority (SADA) under the TCP at Barog has been closed for over six months for the want of manpower. The office was opened to facilitate the work of the TCP of the area in and around Barog. Now one has to make repeated rounds of Solan even for petty issues, pointed Mr Sanjay Kumar, vice-president, Barog panchayat. The Solan TCP office is itself plagued with staff shortage.
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7,000 new houses to be built
Shimla, August 21 This was revealed in the meeting of project officers of district rural development agencies held here yesterday to review the progress various schemes being implemented by the Rural Development Department. Under the Swaran Jayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana, the people living below poverty line will be provided subsidy of Rs 6.50 crore and a loan assistance of Rs 22.45 crore for undertaking income generating activities during this year. The Director, Rural Development, who presided over the meeting, stressed that the beneficiaries of the Jayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana should to be educated about the Group Life Insurance Scheme under which insurance money of Rs 6,000 is given in the event of death. In case of death in accident, insurance money of Rs 12,000 is given. During the review of the progress of the Sampuran Gramin Swarojgar Yojana, it was revealed that a sum of Rs 32 crore and 26,000 metric tonne of foodgrains would be made available this year. The sanitation programme was being implemented in seven districts of the state and remaining five districts would be covered in due course of time. Mr Deepak Sanan, Country Team Leader, World Bank, also held a meeting with the project officers of district rural development authorities regarding the implementation of the programme. It was revealed in the meeting that 17 villages in Kullu district had been declared free from open latrines and the process to make a hundred more villages under the programme was under process. It was also suggested in the meeting to adopt at least one panchayat in district to make it open latrine free and made people aware about the sanitation. This would help to keep environment neat and clean and in checking spread of diseases.
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Plan to
develop Bilaspur approved
Shimla, August 21 The plan , which will take care of the growth of the town up to 2021, covers 23 adjoining villages, besides the existing municipal area of Bilaspur town. The total planning area adds up to 1100 hectares. The population of the town was about 18,000 as per the 2001 census and the plan will suffice for a population of 40,000 over the next 15 years. The new sectors have been proposed at
Bamta, Nihal, Oel, Jabli and Raghunathpura. The total residential area will increase from the existing 121 hectares to 400 hectares during the plan period. A 7-km bypass road will take off from the national highway at Bamta and run at a higher elevation over the exiting town and again join the highway at the Shimla-Chandigarh end. While a truck stand spread over 1.5 hectares will be developed at
Raghunathpura, a spacious regional bus terminus is proposed to be constructed close to the existing bus stand. As many as six new car parking spaces are also proposed. All the projects will be implemented under the private-public partnership programme on build ,operate and transfer
(BOT) basis. The existing area under parks and open spaces, which was less than one hectare at present, is proposed to be increased to 13 hectares and the commercial area from 5.26 hectares to 11 hectares. The area under the industrial estates will be raised from 11 hectares to 18 hectares. Besides, seven hectares of additional area will be provided for opening of new offices and the area under roads and other basic amenities will increase from 82 hectares to 120 hectares. The government proposed to formulate separate development plans for the upcoming urban growth centres like nearby
Barmana. The ribbon development along the highways is to be curbed by creating commercial multiplexes as counter magnets. |
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Truckers’ union office sealed
Nurpur, August 21 The controversy over the management of the union had started on August 7 when truck operators elected Rishi Pathania as their president unanimously in the presence of outgoing president Rajiv Raju, who himself proposed the name of Pathania. The operators had alleged misappropriation of union funds. Two days after the union elections, a controversy was kicked up by some operators having political influence since they did not want to lose the management of the union. The operators launched a parallel union on the premises of the block samiti building at Jassur. |
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Demand to set up Manimahesh trust
Chamba, August 21 Mr Harish Chandra Sharma convener, Chamba chapter of INTACH, has suggested the opening of the pilgrimage for at least three months from July to September instead of merely for 15 days from Krishna Janmashtami to Radhashtmi. Mr Sharma said that this decision would not only beckon more pilgrims and tourists but also boost tourism activities in the Bharmour tribal valley of Chamba district where the Manimahesh pilgrimage centre is nestled in the lap of snowy ranges of the northwestern Himalayas. This would go a long way in generating employment opportunities for the local tribal residents, Mr Sharma opined. Mr Sharma also demanded construction of a yatri niwas under the centrally sponsored scheme in Chamba for the facility of pilgrims. |
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Man kicks pregnant
wife to death
Dharamsala, August 21 According to the police, the victim was reportedly two months pregnant, though it is yet to be confirmed by the post-mortem report. She had two daughters, aged one and two. In her complaint to the police, Vimla Devi, mother of the victim, said Raju was continuously harassing her daughter and the matter had also been put up before the village panchayat several times. The desire of Raju to get remarried was at the core of the dispute, said the police. The couple got married nearly five years ago. |
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Mr Suresh Bhardwaj, state BJP chief, today urged the Governor, Mr V.S. Kokje, who is also the Chancellor of Himachal Pradesh University, to remove Dr L.R. Verma, Vice-Chancellor, who according to him had been virtually functioning as an activist of the ruling Congress.
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