H I M A C H A L   P R A D E S H

Work on Chamera-III hydel project comes to a halt
Shimla, October 15
Work on the Chamera-III hydroelectric project, being executed by the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC), has come to a halt. The state Pollution Control Board acted promptly against the project authorities for starting work without obtaining the mandatory ‘consent to establish’ under the Water Pollution Act and Air Pollution Act.

Mankotia to submit list of corrupt to Sonia
Kangra, October 15
The former Tourism Minister and MLA from Shahpur, Major Vijay Singh Mankotia, has expressed concern over the nexus of some politicians, bureaucrats and contractors, which was tarnishing the image of the Congress in the state. Besides, it has severely eroded the credibility of the party.

Power project faces rough weather
Karcham (Kinnaur), October 15
The 7,760-crore 1000-MW Karcham-Wangtoo Hydroelectric Power Project — nation’s largest private venture in hydroelectric power generation-proposed to be set-up here on Sutlej by Jaypee Karcham Hydro Corporation Limited has invited the wrath of local people prior to its inception.

Church body stakes claim to forest land
Shimla, October 15
Staking claim to a large portions of forest land in the town, the Secretary, Amritsar Diocese Trust Association (ADTA), has requested the local Municipal Corporation to examine the British time revenue records before taking a final decision on transferring forest land to the forest department.

Anti-rabies vaccine shortage hits poor
Solan, October 15
In the absence of a cheap substitute for the anti-rabies vaccine, the poor in the region are forced to shell Rs 1,500 for each shot. The fact that the World Health Organisation (WHO) had directed the Central Research Institute (CRI) at Kasauli to put on hold the production of anti-rabies vaccine produced from the sheep brain since December 2004, an acute shortage of rabies vaccine has been reported in government hospitals across the region.

Need to change curricula with time, says Montek
Kumarhatti, October 15
Dagshai Public School, 4 km from here, today celebrated its 48th founder day. Dr Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission, was the chief guest.

Kashmiri migrants may be allowed to buy land
Shimla, October 15
Keeping in view the problem of insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir, the state government is likely to give a special one-time relaxation to migrants from the Valley for purchasing land in the state.

Oncology meet opens
Shimla, October 15
Stressing the need for creating awareness about cancer, Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh said today that efforts would be made to provide better treatment so that the disease was detected at an early stage, when it was curable.

6 Birla workers go missing?
Baddi, October 15
The tussle between workers and the management at Birla Textiles unit here has taken a new turn with six of the factory workers having allegedly gone missing since yesterday.

• Four houses gutted

Work on Chamera-III hydel project comes to a halt
Tribune News Service

Shimla, October 15
Work on the Chamera-III hydroelectric project, being executed by the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC), has come to a halt. The state Pollution Control Board acted promptly against the project authorities for starting work without obtaining the mandatory ‘consent to establish’ under the Water Pollution Act and Air Pollution Act.

The board not only stopped work but also write to the Dehra Dun-based explosives agency not to supply any explosives for the project. The board earlier issued a notice to the NHPC not to start work on the project without obtaining the ‘consent to establish’.

The NHPC had got clearance under the Environment Protection Act for the Chamera-III and Parbati-III projects from the Centre without the recommendations of the state.

The state government did not take kindly to the decision of the Centre to grant environmental clearance to the two projects unilaterally and lodged a protest with the Union Ministry of Environment and forests. Mr Virbhadra Singh, Chief Minister, took up the matter with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, and sought his intervention to ensure that the environmental concerns of the state were not ignored while clearing projects.

The NHPC had indeed sought ‘consent to establish’ under the two Acts. However, the board refused it on the grounds that the state government had not given clearance for the project. Consent to establish is mandatory for projects as various issues like dumping of muck, disposal of waste generated from human settlements in the project area, noise caused by construction machinery and generators and disposal of polluting turbine oil are to be looked into.

The state government had adopted a tough posture against the NHPC authorities ever since it obtained unilateral clearance from the Centre. It has been mounting pressure on its management to take into consideration its and incorporate the necessary conditions in the environment clearance and management plans for the two projects. Only yesterday it issued a directive to the general manger of the Parbati project to ‘undo’ the damage caused to environment due to construction of the Parbati-II project in one month or face prosecution.

Mankotia to submit list of corrupt to Sonia
Our Correspondent

Kangra, October 15
The former Tourism Minister and MLA from Shahpur, Major Vijay Singh Mankotia, has expressed concern over the nexus of some politicians, bureaucrats and contractors, which was tarnishing the image of the Congress in the state. Besides, it has severely eroded the credibility of the party.

Major Vijay Singh expressed these views while addressing a press conference at Dharamsala yesterday. He said the public was perturbed due to the nexus. It was decided that the list of such elements would be prepared by December 1, to be submitted to the AICC President, Ms Sonia Gandhi.

Mr Mankotia said they were encouraged by the statement of Ms Sonia Gandhi during the Congress Chief Ministers’ conclave at Chandigarh that corruption would not be tolerated. He said she pointed out that the nexus of the politicians, power brokers, bureaucrats and contractors had to be smashed.

He further said Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh had also said at Mandi on October 6 that corrupt officials would be removed and severely dealt with. He demanded an implementation of the assurances for the interest of the party.

He said he was preparing the details of the case based on the facts to be submitted to the Congress president. He said a copy of the list of the corrupt officials, politicians and contractors with sufficient material as evidence of their corruption would be submitted to Ms Sonia Gandhi on December 1 and also to Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh.

Power project faces rough weather
Kulwinder Sandhu
Tribune News Service

Karcham (Kinnaur), October 15
The 7,760-crore 1000-MW Karcham-Wangtoo Hydroelectric Power Project — nation’s largest private venture in hydroelectric power generation-proposed to be set-up here on Sutlej by Jaypee Karcham Hydro Corporation Limited has invited the wrath of local people prior to its inception.

Concerned about the environmental hazards in the already fragile mountainous area, local villagers and non-government organisations have stood up against this proposed project even as the Union Ministry of Forests and Environment and the state government had recently granted no objection certificate to the Jaypee’s group of industries to go ahead with the construction work.

Sources in the Jaypee group of industries disclosed that they had planned to begin the construction work on this project from next month. However, legal hurdles created by the gram panchayats likely to be affected by this project seem to be coming on the way of the industrial giant.

Last year, gram panchayats of Karcham, Tapri and other nearby villages exercising rights conferred on them under the fifth schedule of the constitution had denied permission to the Jaypee’s to setup their dream project within their territories but the union and the state governments had both ignored the ‘veto power’ used by the gram panchayats and granted no objection certificates to the Jaypee’s.

A joint action committee of NGOs and the village panchayats of Karcham, Chagam, Urni, Yula, Miru, Runang, Tapri and Panvi was also formed to take up the matter. The local people fear that with the setting up of this project, the existence of their villages will be under threat.

Church body stakes claim to forest land
Pratibha Chauhan
Tribune News Service

Shimla, October 15
Staking claim to a large portions of forest land in the town, the Secretary, Amritsar Diocese Trust Association (ADTA), has requested the local Municipal Corporation to examine the British time revenue records before taking a final decision on transferring forest land to the forest department.

A representation was handed over to the Deputy Mayor Mr Shashi Shekhar, by the Secretary of the Amritsar Diocese Trust Association (ADTA) yesterday, stating that as per the recent Supreme Court ruling, no church properties can be acquired by any other authority.

It was following the constitution of a sub-committee by the MC to look into the issue of handing over 1840 hectares of forest land in the town to the forest department that this representation has been given to the MC. The committee met yesterday but no final decision was taken on the issue of handing over of forest land to the government for better management.

The secretary also handed over revenue records of the British time to the Deputy Mayor, with the request that no decision should be taken about the forest land owned by the ADTA.

“All properties be it a Church building, orchard, cemetery or a forest land belong to the ADTA and are totally meant for missionary and charitable work,” claimed the secretary. He also said the ADTA can consider giving some vacant land to the forest department as per the laws of the Trust.

With the local Church authorities staking claim over the forest land, the issue has become even more complicated. Despite being strongly opposed to state government’s decision of handing over the 1840 hectares of forest land with it to the forest department, the MC could not arrive at a final decision on the matter.

The sub-committee constituted to decide the course of action in the wake of the government notification that the forest land with the MC be handed over to the forest department for better management, held its second meeting yesterday. “We have not been able to locate the revenue records of the British time except documents pertaining to the Craignano forest land, which was given on lease to the local MC,” informed a councillor.

The decision to hand over the entire forest area within the Municipal limits and the catchment area to the forest department was taken after it was felt that the century-old deodar forests were fast depleting and immediate steps need to be taken to protect them.

Anti-rabies vaccine shortage hits poor
Our Correspondent

Solan, October 15
In the absence of a cheap substitute for the anti-rabies vaccine, the poor in the region are forced to shell Rs 1,500 for each shot. The fact that the World Health Organisation (WHO) had directed the Central Research Institute (CRI) at Kasauli to put on hold the production of anti-rabies vaccine produced from the sheep brain since December 2004, an acute shortage of rabies vaccine has been reported in government hospitals across the region.

The disease mostly afflicts the poor people. The fact that the CRI is the only institute manufacturing the vaccine for the northern states like Haryana, Punjab, Himachal, Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir its unavailability has adversely affected the poor. Other options available in the market include a tissue culture developed vaccine which is priced at Rs 1,500.

The earlier vaccine which produced a side-effect in the form of paralysis, which was one in 10,000 cases, was, therefore, phased out of production revealed officials of the CRI.

Though some ray of hope was seen during a recent visit of the Union Health Minister, Mr Anbumani Ramadoss to the CRI when he announced reviewing the price of rabies vaccine but it is yet to be translated in to reality. The institute which prided in manufacturing the rabies vaccine is now unable to install the requisite machinery for tissue culture technique. Though trials are underway to develop a cheaper option in the form of an intra-dermally developed vaccine but it is yet in the trial stages by some private companies. Its market introduction would take another year inform sources in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

Need to change curricula with time, says Montek
Our Correspondent

Kumarhatti, October 15
Dagshai Public School, 4 km from here, today celebrated its 48th founder day. Dr Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission, was the chief guest.

He said the nation was marching ahead on economic growth. Besides a few concerns like education and health the country had achieved remarkable growth. Earlier addressing school students, their parents and guardians, Mr Ahluwalia stressed upon the need to change the education curriculum in new changing requirements.

Meanwhile, his wife, Dr Isher Judge Ahluwalia, Vice-Chairman of Punjab Planning Board, distributed awards to winners in various fields. Fateh House bagged the trophy for best house of the year. Mr Swarn Singh, Chairman of DPS governing board, thanked the chief guest. Mr Tejinderjit Singh, Principal, read out the school achievements in various fields.

Dr Montek Singh Ahluwalia also visited an exhibition put up by school students. 

Kashmiri migrants may be allowed to buy land
Tribune News Service

Shimla, October 15
Keeping in view the problem of insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir, the state government is likely to give a special one-time relaxation to migrants from the Valley for purchasing land in the state.

The matter was already under the active consideration of the government and was likely to be placed before the Cabinet for making special relaxation in Section 118 of the Tenancy and Land Reform Act. Under this Act only those owning agricultural land in the state or those who had been given bonafide status after completing 25 years’ stay in the state could purchase land.

It was being proposed that this shall be a one-time relaxation, specially for those migrants who had completed 15 years’ of stay in HP, they would be eligible for purchase of land. A large number of migrants, especially Kashmiri Pundits, after having fled from the Valley settled down in Hiamchal, mostly in the border districts of Kangra and Chamba. 

Oncology meet opens
Tribune News Service

Shimla, October 15
Stressing the need for creating awareness about cancer, Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh said today that efforts would be made to provide better treatment so that the disease was detected at an early stage, when it was curable.

Mr Virbhadra Singh was speaking at the inauguration of a two-day conference of the North Zone Association of Radiation Oncologists of India. The conference has been organised by the Department of Radiotherapy and Oncology of the Regional Cancer Centre here.

6 Birla workers go missing?
Jagmeet Y. Ghuman

Four houses gutted

Palampur, October 15
Property worth Rs 4 lakh was destroyed in fire which broke out in Ghuggar village near here this morning. The fire was first noticed at 9 am. Within a few minutes four houses were burnt completely, while six other houses were partially damaged. It started from the house of Mrs Vidya Devi. The fire brigade was summoned to control the fire in one and half hour. But it took several minutes for two fire brigade engines to refill the water as there was no pressure in the water supply line. — OC