Reckong Peo, August 7
Most parts of the tribal belt of Kinnaur and Spiti valley today got respite from the lashing rain that was continuing for the past two weeks. As a result, the water discharge in the Sutlej started receding in the afternoon on Monday.

The water level in Pareechu rivulet also slightly declined by 0.104 metres on Monday as against the rise of 8 ft on Sunday evening. Official reports available from the district administration revealed that the water level of Pareechu was 4,384.874 metres from the mean sea level on Sunday, which declined to 4,384.770 metres on Monday.

The water discharge in Spiti, the main tributary of Sutlej, at Khab, in Pooh subdivision of Kinnaur, has declined by 85 cumecs. The water discharge of Spiti due to sudden rise in Pareechu on Sunday was recorded at an all time high of 426 cumecs under any normal conditions during the past many decades. It, however, declined to 341 cumecs on Monday. It may be mentioned that Pareechu rivulet merges into Spiti, the main tributary of Sutlej near Sumdo in Kinnaur district.

Sources in the Sutlej Jal Vidhyut Nigam (SJVN) today revealed that the overall water discharge of Sutlej at Nathpa dam site rose to 1,440 cumecs early this morning possibly due to sudden rise of water level in Pareechu but later in the day the situation improved a lot. In the evening, the water discharge of Sutlej here at Nathpa declined to 1,365 cumecs, with a silt content of over 14,000 ppm.

The immediate threat of a flash flood in the Sutlej has faded away bringing cheers on the faces of the tribal people and officials of the district administration but the situation for the SJVN for running the 1500 MW Nathpa-Jhakri hydropower project is still alarming due to the large quantity of silt that has so far not come down to the permissible limit of 4,500 ppm to run this project.

The power generation in this power project thus remained closed for the 15th consecutive day on Monday causing a loss of about 150 crore in power generation.

Meanwhile, the authorities concerned of the district administration of Kinnaur were still keeping a watch on the mood of Pareechu rivulet because the water level in it has declined just slightly.

Palampur, August 7
The administration here today decided to regulate traffic in the town to avoid frequent traffic jams.

This was stated by Mr C.P. Verma, Sub- Divisional Magistrate (Civil), Palampur at a meeting of senior officers of police, PWD, IPH and Municipal Council, members of various local self bodies and representatives of voluntary social organisations. He said the administration had decided to set up four parking places.

Mr Verma said the first parking site had been identified in front of the State Bank of India for over 50 light vehicles. Another parking site had been identified near Sabzi Mandi, where over 100 vehicles could be parked. For vehicles coming from Baijnath, Paprola and HP Agricultural University, a parking site would be developed on the national highway-20 near SM Convention Centre. Mr. Verma said, resident of the town could continue to park their vehicles on old parking places such as near Rotary Bhavan and old bus stand.

He said no one would be allowed to park vehicles in the main market and national highway number-20 where frequent traffic jam was reported daily. Mr Verma appealed to residents of the town to cooperate with the administration so that traffic problems could be solved.

He said over 50 vehicles were added to town every month, the width of most of the roads were same as it was 10 years ago, therefore measures had to be taken.

The administration has decided to impose complete ban on the parking of vehicles in the main market and on narrow national highway 20 passing through the town.

He said for the time being no parking fee had been prescribed in this parking site. In the later stage the local Municipal Council could take any decision on this issue.

Members of the local Municipal Council, the Beopar Mandal, and the Chairman of the Block Development Committee, representative of Save Palampur, Palampur Welfare and Environment Protection Forum. President of Ghuggar, Aima and Lohana Panchayats, attended the meeting.

Solan, August 7
Terming the withdrawal of the notification issued by the state Forest Department to include an area of 17.55 square metres in the Majathal Sanctuary as illegal, the Biodiversity Conservation Trust of India(BCTI) has pleaded with the Central Empowered Committee (CEC), constituted by the apex court, to initiate action against the officials concerned.

In a representation to the CEC, the BCTI has taken strong exception to the non-compliance of conditions imposed by the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MOEF) while setting up a cement plant. It said various stipulations imposed by the MOEF to de-reserve the Darlaghat Sanctuary in 1991-1992 for non-forestry purposes have not been complied with. They include setting up of a new sanctuary in the state and addition of 20 square kilometres to the existing 40 square kilometres of Majathal sanctuary.

Though in compliance of the first condition, Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary was set up in 1999, the second condition remained unfulfilled despite a lapse of more than a decade. The government, however, notified its intention to include 17.55 square kilometres in the Majathal sanctuary as late as in 2002 under Section 18 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. This notification was, however, rescinded on December 5, 2005, and a proposal to add a similar area to Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary was notified. This was done to facilitate another cement plant coming up in the area, stated the trust.

Asserting that this change was a violation of the conditions imposed by the MOEF, the trust said the habitat of cheer pheasants among other species, including koklas, red jungle fowl, khaleej, Himalayan black bear, ghoral, leopard, etc. thriving in the area would be affected. The exclusion of this vital 20 square kilometres from the Majathal Wildlife Sanctuary threatens their survival.

The trust has demanded withdrawal of this notification and has sought a reply as to why the 20 square kilometres were not added to the Majathal sanctuary. Action against the concerned official for wilful and deliberate violations of the conditions imposed under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 and Wildlife(Protection) Act, 1972 has been sought. Submission of an action taken report about the compliance of laid conditions and the area of forest land diverted to user agencies in the past along with the number of trees felled in the area have been sought.

The DFO concerned, Mr R.S. Chauhan, when contacted said since no eco-sensitive zone within a periphery of 10 km had been notified by the Central Government it could be given for any commercial activity. When asked about the withdrawal of the notification, he said it was done following a report submitted by the Deputy Commissioner, Solan, where local villagers had objected to this expansion. He declined comment when asked about the natural habitat of animals being disrupted due to non-expansion and passed the buck on to the Chief Wildlife Warden. 

Shimla, August 7
Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, a former Chief Minister, has rejected as "scandalous" the rules framed by the government for making recruitment to Class I and Class II posts on a contract basis and alleged that their implementation would open a floodgate for backdoor appointments in the government.

Addressing a press conference, here yesterday, he said the state Public Service Commission had been bypassed in the rules notified last week as per which departmental committees would carry out the recruitment. The only objective was to create a scope for appointment through the backdoor and revive and perpetuate the Congress culture of making appointments on recommendatory chits, which prevailed during 1994-98. These new rules would virtually make the Public Service Commission and the Subordinate Services Selection Board redundant.

The government was forced to frame rules at the intervention of the high court, which had issued directions that the exercise should be carried out in consultation with the statutory recruitment agencies. However, the rules framed by the government were rejected by the commission after which it was decided to do away with consultation by amending the relevant rules to make the mandatory "consultation" with the commission "optional". This was a blatant violation of the rules of the Public Service commission.

Similar rules had been framed for recruitment to the Class III posts in which the Subordinate Services Selection Board would have no role and the selections would be made by the departmental committees.

The BJP leader reiterated the demand for the repeal of the State Sports Act which , he maintained, would undermine the autonomy of the sports bodies. He also released the copies of the letter written by Mr Randhir Singh, secretary general of the Indian Olympic Association, which said that national events would not be allotted to the sates, which had passed such laws. It would also debar the state players from participating in national and international events.

He alleged the police had provided a reprieve to Banni , a son of Punjab Congress Chief ,Mr Shamsher Singh Dullo, and his friends by making a weak case under bailable Sections which paved the way for their release from custody. 

Nahan, August 7
Two persons were injured in a gang war at Dhaulan Kuan village under Paonta Subdivision today. Two persons were reportedly kidnapped at gunpoint by anti social elements who had reportedly come in a jeep. The incident took place this afternoon at Dhaulan Kuan bus stand when eight persons led by Sadhodeen Khan arrived at Dhaulan Kuan. The attackers were looking for Sadhodeen and seven other persons. As soon as these persons came out of a bus the attackers, fired two rounds in the air and started beating up Sadhodeen and his 
companions.

Sadhodeen and his companion were badly beaten up by the attackers while Yashpal and Pawan Kumar were stabbed. They were immediately rushed to the Paonta Sahib hospital. Two persons, namely Wali Mohammud and Shukerdeen are reportedly missing.

Later in the evening, Mr D.K. Yadav, S.P. Sirmaur, told mediapersons that the police had successfully arrested three attackers, namely Jitender, Sukh Rampal, and Hardev, all residents of Chhachhroli after an encounter at Palian Khud three of their accomplices managed to slip into the dense forest of Palion. A police force has cordoned off the forest area and combing operations to nab three criminals were in progress. 

Bilaspur, August 7
The Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Mr Bahadur Singh, at Ghumarwin near here has sentenced Kuldip Chand of Hari Talyangar village to three months' imprisonment and fined him Rs 3,000. for demanding dowry from his wife Swaranlata and her parents.

Swarnlata had earlier filed a complaint in December, 2001 in the court alleging dowry harassment She had alleged that she was turned out of the house by her husband and the in-laws on December 18, 2001 and she had been living with her father Hoshiyar Singh since then.

The judge found Kuldip Chand guilty of dowry harassment but did not find her in- laws responsible for the same and acquitted them.

The court ordered that out of the fine money, Rs 2500 be paid to Swarnlata as complaint expenditure.