Shimla, September 2
Maj Vijai Mankotia, a former Minister, today fired another salvo at Mr Virbhadra Singh, Chief Minister, by urging Congress President, Mrs Sonia Gandhi to make a “fair and frank” appraisal to ascertain reasons for repeated electoral reverses being suffered by the party in the state.

In a letter to Mrs Gandhi he said the defeat of the Congress in a byelection to the Shimla Municipal Corporation and the virtual decimation of the National Students Union of India (NSUI) in the university and college elections early this week was a matter of grave concern for the party which posted impressive wins in the last Assembly and Lok Sabha polls. Earlier, the party lost the by-election to the Guler Assembly seat.

He said defeats at the hands of the BJP provided a clear indication that the party’s support base was eroding at an alarming rate. The party was fast losing support of the youth, particularly in age group of the 18 to 35 years. Congress government had completed half of its five -year term and a mid-term appraisal to assess “our failures and shortcomings” had become most necessary. Seeking the personal intervention of Mrs Gandhi in the matter he asserted that a review of the regional socio-economic imbalances and disparities as well as certain unpopular decisions urgently required to reclaim the lost vote bank.

Releasing copies of the letter at a press conference here he said that the wanted the party high command to take stock of assets and liabilities in terms of policies as well as leadership. He maintained that the people still had abiding faith in the policies and ideology of the Congress but something was amiss somewhere in the state which was undermining the party’s base in the state.

He lambasted those demanding disciplinary action against Mr Kewal Pathania, a former Minister, who recently requested Mrs Gandhi to appoint a leader from lower hills as the Chief Minister in place of Mr Virbhadra Singh, Maj Mankotia said holding out such threats would not work. It was the duty of public representatives to voice grievances of the people. Moreover, the Congress was democratic party and members were free to raise issues concerning people. He said only yesterday Mr Lalit Maken , a Congress MP , had demanded the resignation of Delhi Chief Minister Mrs Shiela Dixit, in connection with power tariff hike.

He said while on one hand those raising vital issues concerning the party were being threatened with disciplinary action, Mr Virbhadra Singh was himself making some uncharitable remarks regarding the newly appointed PCC chief, Mrs Viplove Thakur. By terming Mrs Thakur, who was chosen for the top party post by Mrs Gandhi , as inexperienced he had no done no good to the party. He said the war of words among leaders must stop and he personally felt that it was undermining the capacity of Mrs Gandhi to take right decisions.

Regarding the move of setting up a high level committee to look into the charge of discrimination against lower hill areas in the matter of development he said he would himself come out with relevant facts and figures. He suggested that a “rapid development authority” should be set up to accelerate the pace of development in lower hills and 70 per cent of the funds under the economic package given by the Prime Minister to the state be spent in the region.

Dharamsala, September 2
On the 45th anniversary of the Tibetan Democracy Day, Mr Samdhong Rinpoche, Prime Minister of the Tibetan Government-in-exile, here today underlined the demand for genuine and full-fledged autonomy in Tibet.

He said the so-called autonomous region of Tibet did not have any meaningful autonomy and that was the central point to be discussed with the People’s Republic of China.

We need genuine and full-fledged autonomy, as has been promised in the constitution of China, he said. Commenting on the elaborate celebrations in Lhasa yesterday, he said the change was that this time the Chinese Government did not accuse the Dalai Lama of anything and the statement was much mild compared to previous year’s.

He said because of the Dalai Lama’s singular efforts, democracy had reached a higher degree in the exiled Tibetan community.

And even when in exile the efforts had facilitated the successful functioning of the administration and the institution of the Tibetan community and the preservation of the Tibetan religion, culture and language. “The cause of Tibet is close to a resolution owing to the Dalai Lama’s altruistic institution and the unified force of the Tibetan people,” he said.

The Tibetans in and outside Tibet have been able to carry out a lot of activities throughout the last Tibetan wood-monkey year. This year being the year of the 70th birth anniversary of the Dalai Lama, we are performing a series of prayers at all major monasteries and religious sites by collecting donations from Tibetans in and outside Tibet, he added.

Guided by the middle-path approach of the Dalai Lama in the ongoing process of dialogue with the People’s Republic of China, the Tibetan delegation was able to hold the fourth round of talks with them in July this year in the Swiss capital city of Berne.

“They provided clarification to the doubts and reservations expressed by the Chinese Government during the third round of talks and were able to take a step further in the process of meaningful negotiations,” he said.

Mr Hu Jintao, President of People’s Republic of China, has said China is a multi-national state and each nationality has its own distinct cultural, linguistic, traditional and historic development. Having a correct view of this, we should absolutely prevent all those actions, which aim to forcibly change the identity of the nationalities, said Rinpoche. 

Hamirpur, September 2
With a view to promoting silk products, manufacturing units would be set up in the districts of Hamirpur, Bilaspur and Mandi.

The Deputy Commissioners, sericulture officers and General Manager, Industries, will work out a plan to encourage entrepreneurs by providing bank finance.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the Divisional Commissioner, Mandi, Mr K.J.B.V. Subrahmanyam, with Revenue Officers of Hamirpur.

For the first time in the state, a process to review the disposal of revenue work to help the public was chalked out, wherein the officers will have the liberty to fix targets.

It was also decided to direct the Irrigation and Public Health (IPH) Department to provide water taps in all schools of Hamirpur district. The Deputy Commissioner would coordinate with the IPH and the Education Department.

To put in place an efficient system of garbage disposal, it was decided that the Deputy Commissioner and the Chief Medical Officer would prepare a project to establish waste disposal mechanism within month.

A meeting of pradhans and PR functionaries would be held at block levels to chalk out a strategy to educate people in the district. The Deputy Commissioner would also coordinate with the Vice-Chancellor of Horticulture University in Solan for organising a district-level workshop to implement the National Horticulture Technology Mission.

Reviewing the progress made under the dairy development project, it was decided to reorient the project in a way that the overall quantity of milk could be increased and more dairy units could come up. It was also decided that the Rs 3-crore allocation to Hamirpur district for the Swajaldhara scheme should be utilised within the current financial year.

Sundernagar, September 2
Residents of Mandi and Bilaspur districts along with the officials of the BBMB and NTPC witnessed the annual feature of releasing water from Bypass chute (the main safety devise) of the 990 MW Dehar power house this afternoon by the BBMB authorities at Slapper, about 20 km from here.

At the Dehar power house of the Beas-Sutlej Link Project the water of the Beas is diverted from Pandoh and is collected at the balancing reservoir at Sundernagar. From this place water is again diverted through a 12.3 km tunnel and is used at Dehar power house at Slapper. Ultimately the water falls into river Sutlej.

To provide safety into the power house in case the turbines stop and for restarting there a surge shaft has been constructed. Additional water is diverted through the bypass chute, which ends just about 100 feet above the Sutlej, in such a manner that the released water forms a parabolic path. This feature used to be a regular one as the water in the Beas was sufficient, but with the passage of time the flow of the Beas decreased and now the BBMB uses it to test its safety device once in a year for just half an hour.

Mr Virender Singh, Finance Minister Haryana and Mr Balbir Singh , Member Irrigation, were also present at the site. Another function of this chute is to clear the silt from the tunnel, which can damage the machinery of the power house.

As per the estimate provided by the BBMB officials about 75 lakh cusecs of water was released today.

Traffic on national highway No. 21 and Slapper - Harnora Road got stopped to allow passerby to view it.

When the water started flowing it was muddy and contained silt but by the time it was stopped it was clear.

Mandi, September 2
Though the last date for joining for seven doctors—four at the Zonal Hospital (Mandi) and three at Sarkaghat Hospital —expired last month, patients continue to suffer as the state government has failed to fill the 18 vacant posts of doctor here.

“I brought my wife to the OPD on Wednesday, but she has not been examined by a doctor in the gynae ward even after two days,” complained Jassi Ram.

Dulma Devi (45) has been referred from the health centre at Thunag. “We are staying in the guest house and paying over Rs 200 everyday,” he rued.

Dozens of patients either have to pay hefty amount to private clinics or wait endlessly for their turns at the Zonal Hospital where 18 posts of doctor are lying vacant even after an assurance from the Chief Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh.

The government has appointed four doctors for the Mandi hospital and three for Sarkaghat, but no one has joined even after 20 days of the last date of their joining.

The president of the HP Medical Officers Association (HPMOA), Dr J.N. Chauhan, said most departments had either a single doctor or no doctor. “The patient load has multiplied several times. The doctors work round the clock. Many cannot even take leave to look after their families. He/she has to see the patient in the OPD ward, operation theatre and attend to emergency duties and medico-legal cases in the district courts from time to time,” he explained, blaming the problem on shortage of staff.

The Chief Medical Officer, Mandi, Dr K.C. Sharma, said seven doctors had not joined duty so far. 

Kangra, September 2
The ABVP yesterday demanded that the suspension of four ABVP workers of Haripur College should be revoked and an inquiry should be initiated against police officials of Jawalamukhi who acted in a “partisan” manner during the counting of votes during the Jawalamukhi SCA poll recently.

Rakesh Sharma, organising secretary of the ABVP units of Chamba and Kangra districts, addressing a press conference, said the ABVP would approach the district police chief, Mr S.P. Singh, shortly.

Pankaj Chouhan president of the SCA of the Regional Centre, Dharamsala, said the state Government should initiate a move to subsidised seats was being charged at Rs 2,100 each whereas it was Rs 10,000 each for 50 non-subsidised seats.

Amitag Sharma, president of the SCA MCM DAV College, said outside interference must stop in the college.

Kinnaur, September 2
With the decline in the silt content in the Satluj, power generation at five units of the country’s largest 1500 MW Nathpa Jhakri Hydro Power Project was resumed yesterday.

It may be mentioned that due to flash floods in the Sutlej the silt content had risen above the threshold level of 5000 ppm in the past few weeks that affected power generation in the project.

A senior official of the project told The Tribune that silt content has now reduced below 3000 ppm enabling the authorities concerned to resume the power generation.

The power house was closed down to safeguard against any excessive damage by silt to the turbines. The official said the closure of run-of-the-rivers power plants when there was excessive silt load was a common phenomenon. During floods, the silt load becomes excessive and in many cases it crosses 10,000 ppm that no turbine material can withstand such a high silt content, the official added.

Meanwhile, senior authorities of project has sent teams of geologists to the upper catchment areas of the Sutlej to monitor the silt content situation and compile a report on how to control it.

Chamba, September 2
Two Manimahesh pilgrims were killed and four others wounded when a private car (PB02-AK-9791) rolled down about 80-metre-steep hillock on the Chamba-Pathankot highway at Chhanna Mor, 32 km from here, today. The pilgrims were on their way from Amritsar to Manimahesh.

According to official sources, one person was killed on the spot while another succumbed to his injuries on the way to hospital. The deceased had been identified as Ramesh Kumar and Ashok Kumar, residents of Lucknow.

The injured were Vishal, Pappu and Vikram, driver of the vehicle, residents of Amritsar, while Shankar belonged to Lucknow. The injured were admitted to the Zonal Hospital, Chamba.

The police has registered a case to ascertain the cause of accident, the sources said.

Meanwhile, Mr Harsh Mahajan, Animal Husbandry and Urban Development Minister, has directed the district administration to provide relief to the bereaved families of the deceased and the injured in the accident.

Dharamsala, September 2
The Army’s 9 Corps formally became operational at Yol Cantonment, near here, yesterday.

It is headed by Lt-Gen Anup Singh Jamwal. Raised in a short period of four months, the Headquarters of 9 Corps would cover areas of Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and J&K and would be part of the Army’s Western Command.

Speaking on the occasion, General Jamwal said 9 Corps would aim at synergising resources for optimal efficiency, high degree of competence in conventional and counter-terrorist operations and reaching out to youth and ex-servicemen for their welfare and motivation.

The corps would help in the revival of local trade and business and would also act as a catalyst for economic development of the areas under its jurisdiction.

Mandi, September 2
The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Subhasish Panda, has said that the wasteland in Sundernagar and Gohar blocks will be developed under the Aggregated Wasteland Development Programme (AWDP).

Addressing a 20-point Programme meeting held here, Mr Panda said that Rs 3 crore has been allotted for nine panchayats in Sundernagar block, while Rs 3.35 lakh has been allotted for 20 panchyats in Gohar block. The amount will be spent during the five-year period, he added.

Mr Panda informed officials and non-officials members that micro bundhs will be laid out to conserve the waste run-off water for irrigating the plants and trees on the slopes to green the wasteland.

The rain water will be stored through tanks, nullahs and other sources to recharge the tradition water sources in the surroundings villagers, he said.

Mr Panda stated that the recharged water will be utilised for domestic animals and irrigation purposes. 

Shimla, September 2
Heavy apple crop that reaches the Delhi market has caused prices to fall sharply.

As the crop had been delayed by about three weeks due to the rains, the harvesting season is peaking in September instead of August . Everyday 900 to 1,000 trucks of apple are leaving the state for various markets. In all, about 3.50 to 4 lakh boxes of fruit are being exported out daily. An estimated 2.53 crore boxes of apple are likely to be produced this season out of which about 2.20 crore will be exported out of the state. So far, 90 lakh boxes had been exported.

It had been a good year so far and the market had been stable with medium and large-sized “A” grade fruit on average fetching Rs 600 to Rs 700 per box. However, the market slumped as the number of trucks moving out of the state to various markets daily shot up from 650 to over 1,000 over the past one week. The prices have crashed by Rs 200 per box and the “A” grade fruit is being sod at Rs 400 to Rs 500 per box.

Relatively, Chandigarh market has so far remain unaffected mainly due to the fact that the quantity of fruit sold there is still not vary large. The rates have been stable ranging from Rs 450 to Rs 550 per box. Until recently, over 80 per cent of the produce was disposed of at the Delhi market. Chandigarh has been over the past couple of years emerging as an alternative market where this year about 8 to 10 per cent of the produce was likely to be sold.

Shimla, September 2
Bukovinian State Medical University of Ukraine has decided to conduct counselling in India for admission to various medical courses to save students from exploitation at the hands of agents and middlemen.

Dr Georgiy I. Khodorovskiy, a former Ambassador to India and head of the physiology department of the university who was here in connection with counselling, said at present about 250 Indian students were studying in the university and most of them had paid agents to get admission. He said to eliminate the agents, the university had decided to conduct counselling so that student could be enrolled directly.

A batch of 37 students, including 15 girls, selected after counselling from Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh, will leave for Ukraine in the first week of October. Each student will pay only Rs 86,000 as annual fee to the university for the six years course. The total expenditure, including boarding and lodging and return air ticket for vacation, will come to Rs 1.45 lakh which is the lowest.

Factory manager held with weapons
Our Correspondent

Kumarhatti, September 2
The Dharampur police arrested an assistant manager of a factory for allegedly possessing weapons last evening. Acting on a tip-off, a police party led by the SHO, Dharampur, raided Arun Kalar Chemical Factory at Kaanu village, near here. One “katta” and three cartridges were seized from Krishan Mishra who hails from Chandni Chowk, New Delhi. A case under Section 25/27-54/59 of the Arms Act has been registered.