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Central order to government on forest land
Merger of Pangi, Churah sought
Cabinet okays amendment to service rules
BJP: MoU with varsities will harm autonomy
Rise in temperature to
hit fruit crops
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Palampur’s green cover under threat
INA museum in Dharamsala sought
Ex-serviceman stoned to death
Govt to set up honey processing centre
Government warns striking truckers
Total sanitation project implemented
in rural areas
Medical students’ plea to recognise PG courses
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Central order to government on forest land
Karcham (Kinnaur), February 6 Mr Pankaj Asthana, Assistant Inspector General of Forests, Government of India, in a letter written to the Principal Secretary, State Department of Forests, has made it mandatory for this private hydro-power generation company to raise compensatory afforestation and maintain the degraded forest land twice in extent to the surface forest land proposed to be brought under construction at the cost of user agency. The Karcham-Wangtoo Hydroelectric Power Project is the nation’s largest private venture in hydroelectric power generation proposed to be set-up here on Sutlej diversifying at least 16,74,247 hectares of forest land, including 13,62,833 hectares of surface rights for construction of the project. Under this project a 98-metre-high dam has been proposed to be constructed on Sutlej near Karcham village. The project that has been granted sanction on a built-own-operate basis was likely to be commissioned by the end of 2009 but the voice of the local people apprehending environmental degradation coming on the way of the project, its fate seems to be uncertain at the moment. Further, it has been asked to ensure that felling of trees on this land could be done only when necessary and that too with the prior permission of and in consultation with the State Forest Department. The entire reservoir area has to be declared as reserved forest with regulated fishing rights. In order to solve the dispute with the local people, the demarcation of land should be done on the ground at the cost of the project by fixing four-feet high RCC pillars showing forward and backward bearings. However, the Jaypee’s recently began the construction work without constructing these pillars, no matter, later the work was stopped leaning under the pressure of local people who are totally against the coming off this project. The Union Government has also put a complete ban on setting-up labour camps or any other habitation on the forest land and the affected/displaced persons should not be rehabilitated on the forest land. Meanwhile, the construction work on this project at the reservoir site was still suspended and the local people were sitting on a chain fast showing their resentment against the project.
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Merger of Pangi, Churah sought
Chamba, February 6 In a resolution submitted to the Chairman of the Delimitation Commission of India recently, Mr B.R. Bhardwaj, general secretary of the Pangi Welfare Association, has demanded that after the reorganisation, the new Assembly segment should be named as Churah-Pangi Assembly constituency. It was pointed out in the resolution that the Pangi tribal area had been a part of the erstwhile Churah Assembly segment (now Rajnagar) till the year 1967. But in March 1967, the Pangi area was merged with Bharmour tribal Assembly constituency. Culturally and socially, both the Bharmour and Pangi areas are not identical. Even their dialects are quite different to each other. The Bharmour area is located on the south and Pangi on the north totally isolated from each other. Moreover, the Churah subdivision is one of the backward and toughest alpine regions of Himachal Pradesh. “Geographically too, the Pangi tribal subdivision is adjacent to Churah area and for that reason also, six panchayats of Churah have been merged with Pangi tribal area with a view to forming the Killar zila parishad ward,” the resolution added. |
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Cabinet okays amendment to service rules
Kangra, February 6 The State Cabinet took this decision in its meeting at Dharamshala today which was presided over by the Chief Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh. The Cabinet decided to authorize the Excise and Taxation Department to carry out annual auction of the designated 33 multipurpose toll barriers all over the state for the next financial year 2006-07. The Cabinet decided that the pending sales tax assessment in respect of ‘C’ and ‘D’ classes of works contractors be finalised by accepting only 2 per cent sales tax deduction under Section 12C of the Himachal Pradesh General Sales Tax Act, 1968. The Cabinet approved the revised Recruitment and Promotion Rules of Range Forest Officers and also decided to increase the number of posts from the existing 241 to 297 with a view to providing Forest Officers more promotional avenues. The Cabinet approved the recruitment of 21 Assistant Engineers (Civil) in the Public Works Department. The Cabinet approved the 34th annual report of Himachal Pradesh Public Service Commission for the period from April 1, 2004 to March 31, 2005. The Cabinet also approved the eco-tourism policy to give a boost to nature and adventure tourism in the state. The Cabinet decided to relax the bar timings in the state to give a boost to tourism all round the year from existing timings.
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BJP: MoU with varsities will harm autonomy
Shimla, February 6 He said that though the universities had been maintaining that the issue would be deliberated at the Finance Committee and Executive Council before taking a decision, his information was that controversial document, which imposed very harsh conditions on the universities, would be signed on February 10. The conditions which make it mandatory for the universities to implement the contributory pension scheme, increase income by 10 per cent annually and obtaining prior approval of the government for new expenditure would have far reaching consequences. The universities would be virtually reduced to government departments and students would have to pay higher fees and other expenses. Further the grant-in-aid would be kept at the same level upto 2009. He warned that signing of MoU could lead to student unrest in the state. He urged the government to sea reason and not to force the universities to sign on the dotted line in view of its longterm implications. |
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Rise in temperature to
hit fruit crops
Kulu, February 6 Mr S.K. Vashisht, Deputy Director, Horticulture, here told this correspondent that the sudden rise in temperature had caused early sprouting as the optimum humidity was available due to sufficient snowfall this year in the upper region. But the ‘setting’ of fruit would depend on the next two weeks weather conditions as the prevailing dry weather conditions, if prolonged, the ‘setting’ of stone fruits might get affected. He further said the apple crop would certainly get damaged if the rain and snow did not fall within the next one week. Mr Vashisht said apple trees needed at least 1200 hours of chilling period for good setting of fruits but the warm temperature might hit the apple crop. The Subject Matter Specialists (SMS) of the department of horticulture said the farmers should take precautions as the spraying of fungicides would also damage the crop. Meanwhile, the prolonged dry weather has also started damaging the ‘off-season’ vegetables being grown in this district. |
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Palampur’s green cover under threat
Palampur, February 6 The deodar trees, which were the beauty of the town are dying day by day. In the past 10 years over 100 deodar trees have either been axed or have dried up. There were dozens of deodar trees near the old bus stand and the pragati maidan but all of them have disappeared. It is a matter of serious concern that no one in the administration is bothered to preserve the greenery of the town. No efforts have been made to plant new trees. Every year “van mahotsava” is celebrated in the town and VVIPs are called to plant new trees but after some time no trees are seen on the land. There is no post-plantation care. Few years back the HP Forest Minister planted trees near the PWD Rest House but the trees are nowhere to be seen now. The land is now covered with thick lantana bushes. If no serious efforts are made Palampur will soon loose its charm. For the past few years various government and semi-government departments have taken forest laws lightly and trees have been cut without the valid permission from the authorities concerned. In many areas of the town, government buildings have come on land which was covered with trees. Few months ago two 70 year old trees were axed. Nobody in the administration knew who had granted the permission to fell these trees. The Tribune made all efforts to see the documents granting permission to fell these trees but all in vain. There are many other such instances where the deodars have been axed overnight without any permission. As per the provision of the law it is mandatory on the part of departments concerned or the Municipal Council to seek prior permission from the Forest Department, which is ultimately granted by the Deputy Commissioner who is also a District Magistrate. But many government departments preferred to axe these trees by bypassing all the rules and regulations. Meanwhile, various voluntary organisations and environmentalists have lodged their protests with the authorities against the reckless felling of trees. The Palampur Welfare and Environment and Protection Forum (PWEPF) and Save Palampur have urged the state government for the registration of cases under HP Forest Act against the culprits. Mr K. B. Rahlan, President of the PWEPF has expressed serious concern over the large scale deforestration and reduction in the number of Deodar trees in the town year after year.
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INA museum in Dharamsala sought
Kangra, February 6 In a memorandum signed by six INA heroes headed by Mr. H.S.Thapa, and submitted to Chief Minister Virbhadara Singh during his visit to the war memorial today, demanded an INA museum be constructed near the war memorial at Dharamsala or adjacent to the statues of martyrs Durga Mal and Dal Bahadur Thapa at Dari near Dharamsala. Both these INA heroes were hanged in Tihar jail on August 25, 1944 and May 3, 1945 respectively. Both hailed from Himachal Pradesh. The memorandum said that on September 1, 1942, when the INA was formed it had strength of 16000 with 4000 from Himachal and they fought British forces in the hills and forests of Manipur and Burma and won several gallantry awards. The INA had galvanized the entire politics of Indian SubContinent when they appeared as POWs in their uniform of the INA. INA heroes of this state headed by Captain Ram Singh Thakur comprised INA orchestra band which composed tune of National Anthem. |
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Ex-serviceman stoned to death
Nurpur, February 6 According to the information, the body lying in the fields at Lahru village was first noticed by a village woman who immediately informed the gram panchayat pradhan who reported the matter to the police. The deceased and accused were-known to each other and usually consume liquor together. It is alleged that on the incident day both took liquor and he accused stoned him to death and decamped with his pension money kept in the pocket. |
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Govt to set up honey processing centre
Kangra, February 6 Mr Virbhadra Singh, Chief Minister, today revealed this, while addressing farmers assembled for distribution of funds under the National Horticultural Mission Programme beneficiaries scheme at Dharamsala after he laid a foundation stone of the staff quarters of the Horticulture Department to be constructed at a cost of Rs 32 lakh. He said the state was known as the apple state of India for its quality apple produce which had an annual turn over to over Rs 1,500 crore. He said the apple was being produced in most districts while the citrus fruit was emerging as the cash crop in the lower districts. He said the state government was endeavouring to make Himachal Pradesh the “Fruit bowl of India” and give special impetus towards promotion of the horticulture activities He said the emphasis was being laid over other fruits which could be grown in tropical and sub-tropical regions. He said his government had made efforts to introduce the farmers of the lower districts to fruit cultivation and launched mass awareness campaigns, distributed fruit plants free of cost and carried soil testing, etc. He said the efforts had borne fruit and the Nurpur, Jawali and Gangath area of the Kangra had emerged the leader in fruit production and quality kinnow were being grown in these areas, besides new varieties of mango and other citrus fruits. He said that the other farmers were following suit and more area was being brought under fruit cultivation. He said Orchids were also being introduced for cultivation by the farmers which had a vast market and best efforts were being made to encourage the farmers to cultivate best income generating species of fruits and flowers over their lands. He said the state had best raw material to produce quality honey and the bee-keeping was being accorded the top priority for promoting it. The Chief Minister distributed the cheques of subsidy for Rs 7.51 lakh among 62 farmers of Kangra.
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Government warns striking truckers Shimla, February 6 The warning was issued after a review of the situation emerging out of strike. The government noted with great concern the indifferent attitude of the truck operators to the consequences of the strike which could give a setback to the efforts being made to attract investment in the industrial sector. An official spokesman said that such action on the part of truck operators not only discouraged investment in the state by bringing bad publicity but also pushed back the state economy and the employment generation drive of the government. The protesters need to appreciate that in the era globalisation, and rising competition from other states within the country and abroad, coupled with limited capacity of the government to generate employment the truck operators had to be far more responsible in their action. He said the government had already instructed the Principal Secretary (transport) to finalise the report of the committee immediately so that the freight related issues were taken care of. The government did not like to enter into any confrontation with the agitators, but it shall not hesitate to do so in view of the continuing agitation and the direction of the state high court and take suitable action under the Motor Vehicles Act to cancel the permits. Meanwhile, the Federation of Himachal Industries (FHI) has strongly flayed the attitude of the transporters who had not been lifting cement from the Gujarat Ambuja Cements for the past nine days. In a statement here today issued Mr M.P.Mittal, Chairman of the FHI, said that the truck unions were clearly flouting the directions of the state high court and their action amounted to contempt of court. Ambika Sharma adds from Solan: Meanwhile truckers today observed complete closure of all business establishments at Darlaghat. A rally of 1,000 truckers and their supporters marched through streets at Darlaghat and flayed inept handling of the freight revision issue by the state government. They lamented that they could do little but to lend support to this strike as they were unable to repay bank loans availed to purchase trucks. A section of transporters said 90 per cent truckers were in debt to pay monthly instalments ranging from Rs 10,000 Rs 20,000 and running trucks in the present scenario had become enviable.
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Total sanitation project implemented
in rural areas
Shimla, February 6 It is being implemented in the project mode with district as a unit in the state. The Centre has provided Rs 8.12 crore so far and up to December 2005, as many as 633 units for belonging to below poverty line families, 395 units for schools and 44 units in women complexes have been constructed. In Kulu district 70 villages have been made free from the blight of open defecation, while work is on in 163 villages of the district to achieve 100 percent coverage under the programme. The total sanitation progrmame lays greater stress on demand driven approach through community participation. An incentive scheme has been framed under which the cleanest gram panchayat in each block and district and two such panchayats as state level will be rewarded to motivate villagers to make their areas free of open |
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Medical students’ plea to recognise PG courses
Shimla, February 6 The MCI recognition is still awaited for postgraduate courses in orthopaedics, dermatology, radiotherapy, paediatrics and anaesthesia. An inspection by the MCI to grant recognition to the course in dermatology is due in April. Resident doctors pursuing postgraduate course in radiotherapy made a representation to the Principal Secretary, Health, on February 3 to get the inspection of their department done in April along with that of the Dermatology Department. They had pointed out that the course in radiotherapy was started in 2002-03 after inspection by the MCI. A similar problem is being faced by resident doctors pursuing course in orthopaedics, which was de-recognised by the MCI after certain shortcomings were pointed out. |
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