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Power project row: relief panel constituted
CM urged to shift ski village project to Chamba
Devtas reach town for Shivratri
Dry spell to advance fruit season
Water crisis in Dharampur deepens |
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Inland container depot at Baddi
Man marries tree
Students to be
made aware of forensic science Kathakar Samman
for state writer
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Power project row: relief panel constituted Reckong Peo, February 25 The first meeting of this committee was held here today under the chairmanship of local MLA Jagat Singh Negi. The District Magistrate of Kinnaur, Dr Amandeep Garg, who is vice-chairman of the committee, all subdivisional magistrates and gram pradhans of all affected villages and nominees of Jaypee Karcham Hydro Corporation Limited, was also present at the meeting. Mr Negi revealed that the corporation had mutually agreed upon to reserve a sum of Rs 154 crore as part of relief and rehabilitation of the affected families and various other development works pertaining to the affected villages. He said that the Jaypees would upgrade the primary health care centre of Choltu near Tapri to a 40-bed hospital, which was a long pending demand of the local people. The Jaypees would also provide sufficient funds to construct a road on the left bank of the Sutlej from Wangtoo to Kilba, the preliminary survey of which is likely to be completed by the end of the current financial year, he said. The MLA said the affected population had demanded a polytechnic to be set-up at Urni village. This demand was discussed with the officials of the Jaypees in today’s meeting. The officials of the Jaypees had agreed upon to put up this demand in the agenda of the next meeting of their board of directors. The officials of the corporation had also promised to ensure 70 per cent of jobs to Himachali people in the construction works of the project, revealed the MLA. Meanwhile, Dr Garg said the meetings of the Relief and Rehabilitation Committee would be organised regular intervals in future and further demands of the local people would be discussed and placed before the corporation for consideration. He further said the committee would also act as a mediator between the company and the affected families so as to give maximum benefit to the local population.
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CM urged to shift ski village project to Chamba
Dalhousie, February 25 The Dalhousie-Chamba circuit has several areas worth venturing like Pangi and Bharmour valleys. These areas are under-developed and the government should ponder over shifting this project to Chamba district, especially at a time when Chamba is celebrating 1000th year of its existence from April 13 to 19. This will give a much-needed fillip to the tourist trade in this area and offer a lot of employment opportunities to the locals. The Himachal Pradesh Government is committed to undertake the Himalayan Ski Village project in the Kulu-Manali region promoted by Alfred Ford, a US-based company with an outlay of Rs 3,500 crore to boost employment-oriented tourism industry in the state. But enough controversy has been generated and the matter has been politicised too. Added to it ‘gods’ and goddesses’ have pronounced a verdict in the Jagati Puch against this project. The Kulu-Manali region is regarded as a ‘place of gods’ by the locals and their sentiments have to be respected. Moreover, this belt has been promoted enough and attracts heavy influxes of tourists from home and abroad. The people of Dalhousie-Chamba region have suggested that it is high time the state government should forthwith select an appropriate site in Chamba district for this project. This step will also save the state government of embarrassment of having to go back on its commitment to a foreign enterprise. |
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Devtas reach town for Shivratri
Mandi, February 25 Deputy Commissioner Subhasish Panda, who is the Chairman of the Mahashivratri Mela Committee, today received the Dev Kamru Nag devta, the main deity of the Shivratri festival, and four deities in a traditional way. After the reception, the deities made a beeline to the Tarna Devi to pay traditional homage to the goddess. Over 215 devtas are expected to participate in the week-long Shivratri festival. All arrangements have been made to make it a success. |
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Dry spell to advance fruit season
Mandi, February 25 Though the farmers are spending sleeplessness nights over the rise in temperature and the continuing dry spell, the experts say that the season is early by over 15 to 25 days in all pockets of fruit in the state, which will not hit the crop at this stage. In the Kulu-Mandi-Shimla apple-belt the farmers have reported bursting of the buds of mango plums and apple trees early by over 15 to 25 days. "The buds have appeared. We need rains here or snow in the higher reaches to break the dry spell. The prospects are bright for a good crop this year if the weather stays clear during the bloom time", said Mr. Nakur Khullar, an orchardist Baragarh estate near Naggar in Kulu district. The Horticulture Research Station, (HRS) Mashobra, recorded a maximum temperature of over 23 degree C and a minimum temperature of 10 degree C on February 19, the highest recorded in 33 years. "The rising temperature has pushed the fruit season 25 days early this year. Apple can survive dry spell for 50 more days. But beyond it, the quality of the crop will be affected", said Dr SP Bhardwaj, a fruit scientist at the HRS. In the Sundarnagar-Mandi-Hamirpur-Kangra belt the mango flowers have reached the flowering stage, which is almost 15 days early, said the Deputy Director, Horticulture, Mr. KC Chambial. "Other fruit crops like plum and apple are experiencing the same temperature in Jhenjheli, Karsog and Panarsa and Seraj valley apple-belt in Mandi district", he added. The requirement of 1200 hours of chilling needed for the apple crop has been fulfilled this year recorded from November 28 to January 28, revealed the scientists. "The early 'bud burst stage, will not harm the prospects of a good crop if the weather stays clear during the flowering time. The rapid rise or fall in temperature and rains during bloom mars the chances of a good fruit set", said Dr Bhardwaj adding the apple belt of Kotgrah-Kotkhai-Rohru-Jubbal-Chopal has hit a "bud burst" stage, which is early by over 25 days. With the dry spell continuing in the state, the scientists advised farmers not to mix up the fertilizers and remove the grass from the orchards because the dry spell dries up the moisture content in the soil. |
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Water crisis in Dharampur deepens Kumarhatti, February 25 The water flow in the khud at Dagroh, the main water source for the town, has decreased leading to water shortage. Generally, the water crisis starts to surface in April. However, this time an unprecedented rise in temperature and lack of rain have caused a steep fall in the water flow in than main water source of the town. From Monday the water supply in town will now be made available on alternative days basis. Long queues at water taps and hand pumps have now started to become a common sight with residents jostling for a single bucket of potable water. The IPH Department is managing to store 2.50 lakh litres of water daily through boring pumps from the khud, whereas the town needs around 7 lakh litres water to meet its daily requirement. To meet the deficit, the IPH office on Friday made a written request to the higher authorities to deploy four water tankers for the town.
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Inland container depot at Baddi
Solan, February 25 Officials in the Industries Department informed that CONCOR has already granted its principal approval for opening the depot. The project requires more than 100 bighas of land. A container depot both for domestic and import-export purpose would be set up. A logistic park equipped with international technology standards and refrigeration facilities would also be provided in the depot. CONCOR team has shown interest in a stretch of 643.6 bighas of land situated in Barotiwala Industrial area and at Akkanwali. Officials said the revenue position of the land had been ascertained and a case for the transfer of this land was being prepared. The proximity of a proposed railway line and National Highway 21-A has specially attracted the CONCOR team towards the site. An independent consultant has also been assigned the task of assessing the traffic potential of the area by CONCOR. The opening of this depot would put on hold the domination of the local truck unions who not only monopolize the market but often disrupt work for days. This would especially facilitate the export-oriented units to transport their goods safely. The proposal to set up this depot was initially taken up with the Inland Container Depot in April 2005. |
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Man marries tree
Kangra, February 25 The groom was taken to the spot in a “baraat” accompanied by villagers and youths who were dancing to the tune of a band. Women folk of the village sang traditional songs of marriage. The daughters-in-law and granddaughters-in-law of groom’s elder brother were also seen singing traditional songs. Rituals were performed by “purohits”. The tree was decorated as a bride. A lunch was also organised for the villagers and relatives who attended the marriage. People offered “shagun” to the newly married old man, which he gracefully accepted it. |
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Students to be
made aware of forensic science Shimla, February 25 Mr N.C. Sood, Government Examiner at the laboratory which has international recognition, said here today that it was on the request of some schools that experts from the laboratory would create awareness among schoolchildren. “We will cover some prominent government and private schools so that students are aware about the latest crime and stay away from all such activities,” he stated.
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Kathakar Samman
for state writer Una, February 25 Bedi has authored five books and is also a recipient of the Himachal Art, Culture and Language Academy Award for his poem “Mausam Ka Takaza” and the Punjab Kala Sahitya Academy Award for his collection of stories “Kuhase mein ek chehra”. Both his publications have been a subject of research by scholars of Himachal University. The awardee is presently working as District Public Relations Officer at Una.
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Centres of excellence in the offing Shimla, February 25 He was addressing teachers and students at the Himachal Pradesh University (HPU) after laying the foundation stone of the examination block and a multifaculty building to be constructed at a cost of Rs 1.22 crore and Rs 1.47 crore, respectively.
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Himachal Gourav Samman for Editor Shimla, February 25 Sud, who is also the Chairman of the Vishwa Shanti Manch, was honoured at a simple ceremony organised by the Language, Art and Culture Department.
— TNS
Baddi, February 25 The two persons who were carrying the liquor have been booked under the Excise Act. Meanwhile, a chowkidhar with a unit at Kalyanpur near here was nabbed by the police for allegedly possessing 500 gm opium yesterday. Paira Lal from Nasik was booked under the ND and PS Act. OC
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