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Concern over silt in Sutlej, soil erosion
Problems aplenty for power project
A self-taught Bailey bridge expert
Appoint Information Commissioner: Dhumal
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Seminar discusses
patents issue in biotechnology
People want homoeo centre re-located
Panchayat poll schedule
Guidelines sought on dam safety
Journalist assaulted
Crist Olkar wins first prize in angling
INTUC seeks regularisation of daily wagers
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Concern over silt in Sutlej, soil erosion
Shimla, November 21 Specifically set up to collectively address the perennial problems like excessive silt and flash floods which have been affecting generations, the Forum has pointed out that piecemeal implementation of catchment plans for individual project was not proving effective. A number of big hydroelectric projects were coming up in the basin, which had a potential to generate 9,000 MW of power. Concentrated efforts were required to check soil erosion. In a letter to the Chief Secretary, the Forum stated that the total funds under the catchment area treatment plans for various projects will amount to over Rs 300 crore which could be more effectively utilised if a comprehensive project was framed and implemented through an independent agency on the pattern of the foreign-aided forestry projects. The Forum has offered to formulate the project at its own cost. Besides, to break the flow of the highly turbulent river storage projects should be constructed at Riba and Khab in Kinnaur and Rangrik and Poh in Spiti. The problems being faced in the operation of the 1500 MW Nathpa Jhakri project, which suffered a loss of over Rs 650 crore due to repeated shutdowns caused by excessive silt in the river during the current financial year, make it evident that run-of-the-river projects will not be successful upstream. The Forum has suggested the two-pronged strategy to ensure smooth operation of hydroelectric projects on the recommendation of the recent conclave organised by it for the purpose. |
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Problems aplenty for power project
Reckong Peo: Problems for the country’s largest private venture in hydroelectric power generation, Rs 7,760 crore 1000-MW Karcham-Wangtoo Hydroelectric Power Project, proposed to be set-up by Jaypee Karcham Hydro Corporation Limited at Karcham 20 km, from here, are not yet over.
Ever since, the company was awarded the contract on a built-own-operate basis in 1999, the issues related to its impact on environment of the area raised by the local people and gram sabhas continue to pull the plug on this mega hydroelectricity project. The biggest hurdle that has come on the way of this mega project is the amended ‘Himachal Pradesh Transfer of Land (Regulation) Act-1968’ that makes it mandatory for the private investors to get prior consent of the panchayats/gram sabhas concerned before seeking clearances from the required departments of the state government to initiate work on the project. As per the amended act, “previous permission in writing of the state government and prior consultation of gram sabha or panchayats at the appropriate level shall be required for making the acquisition of land under the ‘Land Acquisition Act-1894 (1 of 1894) in the scheduled areas of development of projects and before re-settling or rehabilitating persons evicted by such projects in the scheduled areas, the actual planning and implementation of the projects in the scheduled areas shall be coordinated at the state level”. No matter, Union Power Minister P.M. Syeed at a meeting with the independent power producers early this week has asked the respective Secretaries of Power, Environment & Forests Departments and the state government to look into issues relating to environmental clearance for the 1000- MW Karcham Wangtoo project in HP so that its construction work could be initiated as soon as possible. But the gram sabhas of the affected villages of Miroo, Yula, Urni, Chagaon, Panvi, Kilba, Poonang, Sapni and Brua had so far not given approval to this project. A senior official of the Jaypee group of industries requesting
anonymity told The Tribune that they had got conducted the environmental impact assessment study from the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, Nagpur, before applying for environmental clearances from both the Union and the state government. However, the local people allege that this report is silent on the disaster management plan in case of any natural hazard. They are of the view that the Jaypees should prepare a comprehensive disaster management plan keeping in view the recent incidents of floods in the Sutlej. It may be mentioned that the Jaypees had planned to construct a 98-metre high dam on the Sutlej in a high seismic activity zone. |
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A self-taught Bailey bridge expert
Reckong Peo, November 21 This man without having an engineering degree has helped the Defence forces and Public Work Departments of many states to launch Bailey bridges across rivers in difficult terrain of the country. Thirty years ago in 1975, he learnt the art of launching the Bailey bridges from Liyakat Hussain of
Najibabad, of Bijnore district (UP) and since then he has launched more than 170 small and big Bailey bridges. Having tinkered with model bridges and their assembly made of wooden sticks during his childhood prompted him to learn this art which took him to Liyakat Hussain from whom he learnt his practical engineering skills without a formal degree in the field. After learning the skills, he launched hundreds of Bailey bridges with practice and simplicity. Speed of erection became quite apparent in his skills. The famous Ram Jhula having length of 222 metres in Rishikesh (Uttaranchal) was launched by this man in 1986. Other famous Bailey bridges launched by him during past 30 years, include Taya and Baijro in Garhwal division of Uttaranchal; Simbel Khet and Bhanauli in Kumaon division of Uttaranchal, Koti bridge in Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh, besides, hundreds of bridges in Jammu & Kashmir, Meghalaya and Bhutan. Recently he extended his skills to the General Reserve Engineers Force
(GREF) of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) to launch a Bailey bridge at Khab in Kinnaur district. Previous Bailey bridge was washed away by the flash floods in the Sutlej and Spiti rivers, early this year. Superintending Engineer of the BRO Commander Naresh Mittal introduced Mohammad Yusaf Khan to this correspondent and praised the skills that he had developed in launching Bailey bridges. “The Army acknowledges his particular skill of removing the jacks from the rollers to spread footers with ramps installed to set the bridge at the right place”, he added. Explaining the technique of launching the double-double reinforce Bailey bridge at
Khab, he told The Tribune that after putting together the pins, braces and decking the assembled bridge on greased rollers, properly counter-balanced was slid across the gap by man-power and machinery and then by removing the counter-weight, it was jacked down to spread footers with already installed ramps and finally there was a bridge. Had Mohammad Yusaf Khan been hired by the 18-Engineers Regiment of the Army for seeking his expertise in the field, the tragedy of a bridge collapse at Kharo on September 8 in which they lost 34 precious lives of Army men, would not have struck. To a question Khan said that the technique which Army engineers adopted to launch that bridge was not correct. First, the Army should not have adopted the single-single reinforce technique and begun with fixing the wooden slabs from both sides. It should have been assembled earlier and then pushed along the panels. “I launched the very same bridge at Kharo successfully after flash floods in 2000 with double-double reinforce technique and there was no room left for any laxity”, he said. However, Yusaf Khan acknowledged the triple-double reinforce technique adopted by the 18-Engineers in re-launching the bridge because this technique provided lateral stability to the bridge that prevents sliding down-slope. |
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Appoint Information Commissioner: Dhumal
Shimla, November 21 In a statement issued here today, he said after the enactment of the Right to Information Act, it was mandatory for every state government to appoint an Information Commissioner within a month’s time but in Himachal Pradesh this had not yet been done. “This clearly indicates that all claims of the Congress of having formed a government which is transparent and corruption free seem to be hollow,” he remarked. He demanded that the government should immediately appoint an Information Commissioner and make public the rules under the Act. The BJP leader also lashed out at the government for its failure in protecting the interest of the state in the power projects being executed in the state. “The Chief Minister should clarify if the provision of 12 per cent free power to the states in the new power policy has been included,” he quipped. He added that there were lot of apprehensions in the minds of people regarding this, as Hibachi would be a major sufferer. He said in case the provision of 12 per cent free power to the state where the power project was being executed had been removed, the Congress regime in Himachal would once again be blamed for failing to protect the interest of the people. Mr Dhumal said, whenever, the Congress had come to power in Himachal Pradesh the state’s interest had been ignored. “It was due to the efforts of the BJP government in the state in 1990 that Himachal was given 12 per cent share in all power projects being executed by the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB),” he claimed. He said history was witness that the Congress had failed to get the Pong Dam oustees their due and Himachal’s share in Chandigarh and other projects at the time of reorganisation of states in 1966.
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Seminar discusses
patents issue in biotechnology
Shimla, November 21 Inaugurating a seminar on “National roving seminar on patenting in biotechnology” by the department of Biotechnology at Himachal Pradesh University, he said patents were important for the commercial success of companies, institutions and universities. He said it was important to preserve biodiversity, flora and fauna. Dr Sehgal said by getting a patent, the amount invested could be recouped for the development of products and also generate sufficient income for further research and development. He said biotechnology was a growing field, and with new challenges in the days to come, the question of patenting would assume greater significance. Prof T.C. Bhalla, chairman of the Department of Biotechnology, said the seminar had been organised on the issue of patenting and property rights of an individual. Other participants included Dr Naresh Kumar from the Institute of Microbial Technology, Chandigarh, Dr C.M. Gaind from the National Research and Development Centre, New Delhi, Mr Ram Bhola, Patent Attorney, Dr P.N. Desai from the JNU and Dr Hardev Karar from the Indian Patent Office, New Delhi.
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People want homoeo centre re-located
Mandi, November 21 The small room, also being used as store, where a doctor, a pharmacist and other staff find no proper room to work, leave along patients who have to stand in front of the shops in the Indira Gandhi Market complex for their turn. “I came here at least 10 times to record my problem with the doctor. But each time I found there used to be somebody and everybody can hear what you are saying to the doctor,” complained Ms Kunika, a patient. She is not alone. “The patients first come here for examination, then they have to go for taking X-rays and lab tests to the Zonal Hospital at Mandi, 1 km away from here,” rued Mr Kana Ram, another patient. “Patients who cannot walk suffer as lab tests are done at the hospital,” added Mr K.C. Chandel, a patient from Baldwara. “The homoeopathic centre is a good facility, but it should be located in hospital building itself for the benefits of the patients,” he said. The homoeopathic doctors revealed that most of the district hospitals at Solan, Una and Dharamsala run the homoeopathic centres in the same building because the lab facilities are available in the hospitals only. The Medical Officer, Homoeopathic Centre, Dr D.R. Chandel, said they had no proper place here. “We had requested to the Deputy Commissioner to relocate the centre in the Zonal Hospital building as patients have to go for tests there,” he added. The Chief Medical Officer, Mandi, Dr K.C. Sharma, said they faced a space problem in the hospital, but they may consider its functioning from the hospital building. |
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Panchayat poll schedule
Shimla, November 21 The nominations will be filed from December 1 to 3, at the offices of panchayats, panchayat samitis and zila parishads. The scrutiny will take place on December 5, (from 10 a.m. onwards). Candidates may withdraw their candidature on December 7 and the list of contesting candidates will also be displayed on December 7 immediately after the time of withdrawal is over. The list of polling stations will be published on or before December 1 and polling, if necessary, will be held from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on December 18, in the first phase, on December 20 in the second phase, and on December 22, in the third phase. The counting of votes for the members and pradhans of gram panchayats will take place on the date of the poll immediately after the close of the poll at the gram panchayat headquarters. The result of election to the zila parishad will be declared in accordance with the provisions contained in rule 75(vi) of the Himachal Pradesh Panchayati Raj (election) rules, 1994. The process of election will be completed by December 28. The election programme for all gram panchayats/ panchayat samitis and zila parishad of Keylong and Udaipur sub divisions, zila parishad of developmental block of Kaza, all gram panchayats, panchayat samitis and zila parishad of Pangi subdivision, gram panchayat of Jaban and Namhog in developmental block Ani and gram panchayat of Karjan and Soyal in the developmental block Naggar will be notified separately.
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Guidelines sought on dam safety
Shimla, November 9 It has been pointed out that at most of these projects, the dams are being constructed for diverting or storing water. Experts, too, have suggested that the safety of the dams should be ensured to protect life and property downstream. The matter was discussed at length at the conclave of power producers organised by the Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam here recently. It has been recommended that guidelines for safety should be framed on a continuous basis. One of the suggestions given by technocrats was that a dam should be constructed at Khab in Kinnaur as this would ensure silt-free water through filtration. ‘‘The biggest advantage of constructing a dam will be that silt-free water will be released and harm to the population living downstream will be minimised," said an official. However, among the issues which need to be deliberated upon are: Who will bear the cost of dam construction? Who will store water and release it? And, at whose convenience will water be released? It is learnt that the Union Power Secretary, Mr R.V. Shahi, has agreed that the issue of laying down guidelines for dam construction should be examined at the earliest. |
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Journalist assaulted
Chamba, November 21 According to Mr Sharma, the assailants numbering to about three, were drunk and abruptly attacked him while he was having a stroll around 10.30 p.m. in the Bangotoo vicinity of the town. A complaint in this connection has been lodged with the local police but nobody has yet been brought to the books. Meanwhile, the unions of various newspapers have condemned the attack on the journalist and sought the arrest of the persons involved. The unions have described this attack as a “violence on the freedom of press” and demanded security cover to the family of the scribe. |
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Crist Olkar wins first prize in angling
Nurpur, November 21 Presiding over the closing ceremony of the angling meet, the local MLA and former minister, Mr Sujan Singh Pathania, dispelled public apprehension of displacement of the local populace residing near the Pong Dam reservoir in the wake of the proposed setting up of a bird sanctuary there. Mr Pathania said the Government of India had released Rs 9.15 lakh for the welfare of fishermen who had been earning their livelihood by fishing in the reservoir. |
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INTUC seeks regularisation of daily wagers
Nurpur, November 21 Mr Rajnesh Sharma, state INTUC general secretary, in a statement here today said that a delegation of INTUC had met the Chief Minister on
November 16 at Dharamsala and apprised him of various problems of the workers in the state by submitting a memorandum. Welcoming the private sector industrial revolution the INTUC leader demanded the government should ensure at least 80 per cent jobs to the locals in the industries being set up in the state. |
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