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Wildlife Dept in the dock
4 in race for post of Health Director
RSS chief assails religious conversions
Leasing out of cold storages likely next season
Rift in BJP unit on poll issue
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NGO educates farmers on herbal farming
ADGP Thind’s case: law will take its course, says Virbhadra
Dalai Lama consecrates monastery
BEO’s office raided
Lavi fair begins today
Chamba dist has only 3.65 pc graduates
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Wildlife Dept in the dock
Shimla, October 29 Dr Peter J. Garson , co-chairperson of the pheasant specialist group of the IUCN, has made this observation in response to the state government’s request for nominating an expert who could act as a consultant, specifically on the husbandry and propagation of Western Tragopan and Cheer Pheasants in captivity. Eyebrows were raised when the department sought the services of another expert after shifting most of the staff engaged in the project which led to successful breeding of the highly endangered western Tragopan in captivity for the first time in the world. The government had set up search committee in June to select a new expert which contacted the IUCN for the purpose. In a letter to the department, Dr Garson has pointed out that the documents sent by the department implied that the survival and breeding success of both Cheer Pheasant and Western Tragopan had declined in the pheasantries during the period when John Corder was involved. But the reports made to the CZA and the WPA would seem to suggest otherwise. Prior to John Corder’s visits to Sarahan, the average life expectancy for a Western Tragopan was around four months, whereas not one Tragopan died in the first three years of his involvement. In 2004 a female Western Tragopan chick was successfully raised to adulthood, the only offspring to survive since 1993. As expertise developed within the wildlife wing, Cheer Pheasants was bred naturally at the Chail pheasantry for the first time and now virtually all birds bred annually. He further said most of the experienced staff had been transferred and no longer had the responsibility of the conservation breeding programmes at the pheasantries for which they had received specific training in United Kingdom. Work on the new Tragopan aviaries at Sarahan, using funds granted by CZA had not yet been undertaken as evident from the minutes of the Core Committee meetings. These circumstances had an extremely detrimental effect on the survival and breeding success of the pheasants in the aviaries since around June 2005.
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4 in race for post of Health Director
Mandi, October 29 Four seniormost doctors in the department include, Dr Gian Chand, Dr R.S. Datwalia and Dr Vijay Kapur, all joint directors in the health directorate and Dr D.P. Dogra, Medical Superintendent, at Tanda Hospital, whose suspension in a “case of administrative negligence” was revoked yesterday by the government. “Performance of the four senior doctors as joint directors would be rated as some of them have failed to come up to the mark in the assigned task,” commented a health official, requesting anonymity. But two doctors Dr Ram Lal, currently Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Shimla district and Dr Sulakshan Puri, Deputy Director and state AIDS surveillance officer are being tipped for the post as they enjoy a rapport with the “powers that be”, but they are junior, revealed insiders. As the Health portfolio is headed by Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh himself, the seniormost doctors are likely to get preference over the “dark horses”, revealed doctors. Insiders revealed that the criterion of seniority was never flouted in the past except once in the case of Dr Mahanta, a former Director, whose ad hoc period was counted in his seniority. “This time we are hoping the seniority and merit will count in the appointment of the new incumbent to the post,” they commented. |
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RSS chief assails religious conversions
Shimla, October 29 Addressing a Vishal Hindu Sammelan, organised as part of the Guru Golwarkar centenary celebrations here today, he said even when the country was under foreign rulers its spiritual leaders commanded respect and heard with reverence. He cited the example of Swami Vivekananda who won the heart Americans. However, the exit of foreign rulers did not change the situation much as the country only achieved a “fractured independence”, which left the Hindus divided and demoralised. This enabled the propagators of Islam and Christianity to carry out their mission to convert Hindus using all resources at their command. The urge to expand was leading to a confrontation between to the two religions, which would prove disastrous for the world at large, he added. He asserted that a glorious future awaited the country and all that was required was to make the Hindus realise that they were the inheritors of the oldest religion of the world. “They must raise their self-esteem and take pride in their rich heritage.” Swami Shukdev said the Hindus were facing the onslaught in the shape of religious conversion. “If they fail to unite and take up the challenge they would reduced to a hapless minority in their own country.” Mahant Suryanath, head of the state committee for centenary celebrations, said there was no place for casteism in Hinduism and the practice of untouchability was an aberration. |
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Leasing out of cold storages likely next season
Shimla, October 29 The HPMC had invited tenders for leasing out six cold storages at Rohru, Jarol-Tikkar, Oddi, near Kumarsein, Patlikuhl in Kulu and Parwanoo in Solan and Gumma some time back. Some big names in the private sector like the ITC, Adani group and Container Corporation of India had expressed keenness to take up these cold storages for 15 years and put in their tenders. However, with the matter still pending with the government for the past over three months, it is only from the next apple season that the storages will now be leased out. Since there has been talk of private participation in the HPMC at the highest level to make it commercially more viable, the leasing out of the cold storages is being considered as an important step in this direction. So far it is only the ITC which has taken up the Jarol-Tikkar cold storage on rent for one year for Rs 10 lakh, while no party has shown any interest in taking up the Patlikuhl cold storage. The other companies declined to take up the cold storages for one year as they were not willing to invest on their upgradation and modernisation till they got a lease of 15 years. Since these cold storages were made almost 25 years back the machinery installed them is outdated and as such they require major upgradation. Most of these cold storages were set up in the apple growing belts but with the machinery being outdated and the distance from the market being huge, they have remained underutilised ever since they were set up. On the other hand, the capacity utilisation of the cold storages of the HPMC at Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Mumbai has remained high ever since they were set up. The per cent utilisation of these cold storages, on an average, has been a mere 6.91 in 2002-03, 17.45 in 2003-04, 15.63 in 2004-05. Though the HPMC has tried to improve the conditions and utilisation at these cold storages, the growers prefer to keep their produce in places like Delhi or Mumbai, where it can be supplied in the market at any time. A large number of big names in the industry have stepped into the cold chain and cold storage of fruits in the state. While the Adani group has put up three cold chain units at Sainj near Theog, Rohru and Bithal, near Rampur, the Container Corporation of India has set up its units in
Kinnaur and Rohru and has its own pre-cooling mobile van for transportation of the fruit. |
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Rift in BJP unit on poll issue
Bilaspur, October 29 At the end, the party was divided into two groups — one led by former Health Minister of Bilaspur Sadar constituency Jagat Prakash Nadda and Gumarwin constituency MLA Karam Dev Dharmani, and the other led by BJP state spokesperson Randhir Sharma of Kot Kehloor constituency and former Cooperative Minister Rikhiram Kondal of Geharwin reserved constituency. Consequently, BJP district election officer Virender Sehgal, assisted by former MLA Satpal Kamboj and Dr Shrikant of Solan district, had to hold a secret ballot. Daulat Ram Thakur, supported by Randhir Sharma group, was finally declared winner for the post. He defeated Kuldeep Kumar, candidate of Jagat Prakash Nadda, by three votes. The result was declared late in the last night as the polling started in the evening after all efforts for unanimous election failed.
— OC |
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NGO educates farmers on herbal farming
Nurpur, October 29 The association organised a seminar for farmers and growers here yesterday, which was presided over by Mr N. D. Prajapati of Jodhpur, known as the herbal guru of the country. Mr Prajapati is a herbal tycoon of the country, having annual turnover of Rs 400 crore and inspiring HHOGA for promoting herbal farming in the state. The HHOGA, Kangra Central Cooperative (KCC) Bank and National Insurance Company organised the seminar. The farmers were told that Rajasthan had become the number one herbal state in the country notwithstanding its dry and hot atmosphere. Himachal Pradesh had all possibilities of becoming the best herbal state. |
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ADGP Thind’s case: law will take
Dharamsala, October 29 Talking to mediapersons, he said the opposition had been making irresponsible remarks on Mr Thind’s case. BJP leader and former Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal had yesterday demanded that the Chief Minister should resign on moral grounds following the arrest of Mr Thind by the CBI on charges of obtaining loans worth Rs 3.45 crore from banks allegedly on forged documents. Meanwhile, the Chief Minister spent the day overseeing arrangements for AICC president Ms Sonia Gandhi’s meeting tomorrow, as the police carried out two mock drills from Dharamsala cantonment to the police ground, venue of the rally. The Chief Minister also visited Rajiv Gandhi Government Ayurvedic College in Paprola to take stock of the preparations. Ms Gandhi will unveil a statue of late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on the campus tomorrow. Local residents were put to inconvenience and traffic on the main roads was stopped repeatedly. The town looked like a police cantonment. The town has been done up for the rally and Congress workers are to be brought here in buses from different parts of the state. Large-size posters of Ms Gandhi have been put up in different parts of Dharamsala. State Congress president Ms Viplove Thakur said district and block-level Congress workers will also get a chance to interact with the AICC president. The Chief Minister said Ms Gandhi was likely to visit all districts in the state, including tribal areas in near future. |
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Dalai Lama consecrates monastery
Rampur Bushahr, October 29 Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, and his wife and local MP Pratibha Singh were also present. Delivering the sermon to congregation assembled from different parts of the state, the Dalai Lama dedicated the restored monastery to the followers of Buddhism and greeted them on the occasion. Lauding the efforts of the Chief Minister for making the state a role model of development, he said Virbhadra Singh had shown a new path for development. He said the state was his second home after Tibet and its development had a great impact on the Tibetan community. Virbhadra Singh welcomed and thanked the spiritual leader for consecrating the ancient monastery. He highlighted the achievements of the state. Referring indirectly to the pronouncement of Maheswar Devta, a local deity of Chagaon village of the district, to summon him to the temple, he said people needed to be aware of those who tried to exploit the religious sentiments of the public, thereby lowering the sanctity of deities. He announced that religious seminars would be organised at Rewalsar, Rekong Peo, Tabo, Kee, Keylong and other places where top scholars would deliberate and debate on the teachings of Lord Buddha. The traditional Chhamb dance was also organised by monks of Tabo Monastery. A three-day national seminar of Buddhist scholars was also inaugurated. |
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BEO’s office raided
Kangra, October 29 According to reports, Ms Sudha Devi, SDM, and senior officers, including the Deputy Director of Education, Mr. O.C. Diman, raided the office. When contacted, the SDM said it was an administrative action but refused to divulge details of the raid. She said only higher authorities could divulge the details. Mr Diman was not available for his comments.
— OC |
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Lavi fair begins today
Reckong Peo, October 29 The festival is celebrated at the end of the harvesting season of apples, only cash crop in the region. Therefore, local people with lots of money in pockets do shopping and enjoy the musical extravaganza. Being a far-flung tribal area, most parts of which are cut-off from the rest of the world in the winters, the common socio-religious festivals of the country like Divali or Dashera, Holi or Lohri have hardly made inroads into the tribal culture. Hence, the only festivity that comes alive in Kinnaur is the tribal festival organised by the district administration with little support from the Tourism and Cultural Affairs Department of the state government. For the past few years, the power sector giant Jaiprakash Associates running a 300 MW power plant in the region also started sponsoring this mega event with money. This year, countdown to the festival has begun. People are waiting for the show which has an opportunity for local tradersmen and horticulturists to sell their products. For youngsters, it is an event that gives them time for freaking out with friends. Some even propose to make new friendships. For others, it is a time to meet old friends, relatives and other people. For elders, particularly women, who come from the far-flung villages that often remain cut-off for months, it is of course a festival for them to enjoy cultural events but the main objective is to do purchasing-woollen clothes and essential household items to store for winter. Few traders also bring Chinese goods through Ship-ki-La border from Tibet to sell in the tribal festival. However, for the past few years, this trend has declined as a result of which local items from Delhi, Ambala, Panipat and Ludhiana have started coming here. The district administration like earlier years this year also, cultural troupes from other states have been invited to give a chance to the tribal people of this area to know more about the diversity of cultures that exist in different parts of the country. |
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Chamba dist has only 3.65 pc graduates
Chamba, October 29 This was revealed at a workshop organised by the Directorate of Census Operations, Himachal here yesterday. Heads of different departments of the district, research, scholars and representatives of non-governmental
organisations participated in the workshop. The Deputy Commissioner of Chamba, Mr Pushpendra Rajput, was the
chief guest of the workshop. It was also revealed at the workshop that 93.51 per cent of the total literates in the state had obtained education up
to higher secondary or senior secondary level. In Chamba district, 2,46,169 persons out of a population of 4,60,887 were literate who included 1.77 per cent literate without educational level, 29.30 per cent below primary, 30.61 per cent primary, 13.90 per cent middle, 14.92 per cent matric and 5.03 per cent higher and senior secondary. The 67. 17 per cent women literates up to primary level had outnumbered male literates of 58.30 per cent in the
district. Mr Arjun S. Negi, Assistant Director of Census Operations, Himachal disclosed sex ratio of population in the age group up to six years had come down to 955 females against per 1,000 males in Chamba
district which was 961 for rural and 853 for urban areas. Papers relating to the distribution of migrants by place of birth, district-wise distribution of villages, distribution of aged population (60+) and their percentage, educational level by sex for population age 7 years and above and population classified by age and sex were read out at the workshop. |
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