Shimla, April 27
The government has constituted a committee to re-examine the 17 greenbelts in the state capital in view of the existing ambiguities. The committee has also been asked to identify khasra numbers so that there can be a clear demarcation of the highly protected green areas in and around the town.

The committee has been constituted under the chairmanship of the director, Town and Country Planning (TCP), with the MC commissioner, the additional district magistrate (ADM), the additional deputy commissioner (ADC), the DFO (Shimla division) as its members and the town planner as its member secretary.

A notification in this regard was issued by the government on April 19, in which the committee has been directed to submit its report within two months.

It is for the first time after the 17 greenbelts were identified and notified by the government on December 7, 2000, that an exercise has been undertaken to identify khasra numbers so that there are no ambiguities in the revenue record and the physical survey maps.

As such, the shrinking green cover of the town could be re-notified by the government after examining fresh demarcation of the greenbelts in and around the town by the Revenue and the Town and Country Planning (TCP) Department to remove the existing ambiguities.

It is on the directions of the Cabinet that the task of khasra-wise identification of the greenbelts is being undertaken. Although the greenbelts in the town were notified by the government in 2000, there were no khasra numbers of the area forming part of these greenbelts, leading to a number of missing links. Now, the exact khasra numbers would be mentioned in the records.

The total demarcated green area in and around the town is around 414 hectare. The 17 greenbelts include the forest in Tuti-Kandi, Nabha, Phagli, Lal Pani, Bemloe, Himfed, Khalini, Chotta Shimla I and II, Kasumpti, Charlie Villa, Jakhu, Bharari, Shankali, Ruldu Bhatta, Summer Hill, Boileauganj and Chaura Maidan.

With a complete ban on construction in the greenbelts in and around the town, the process of transferring the physical maps into revenue records could pave the way for partial lifting of the ban on construction activity even if it is in a very small area. It was in December, 2000, that the state government had imposed a complete ban on constructions after the greenbelts were notified.

Dharamsala, April 27
Girls have bagged the first five positions in the class XII arts/commerce examinations conducted by the Himachal Pradesh School Education Board (HPSEB). The results were declared this evening along with the vocational stream.

While declaring the results, chairman of the board B.R. Rahi said 53,681 students had appeared in the class XII arts/commerce examinations, out of which, 29,491 had successfully passed the examinations.

The overall pass percentage stands at 56.29 per cent. As many as 10,543 students had got compartments.

The first position was bagged by Rakhee Thakur of SD Senior Secondary School, Shimla, who secured 85 per cent marks obtaining 425 marks out of the of 500 marks. Jaipradha Sharma of Government Senior Secondary School, Khatnol, Shimla, was second with 424 marks, Mohini Dhiman of St. Bede's College, Shimla, was third with 418 marks, Radhika Jain of NKSD Chand Public Senior Secondary School, Ghuggar, Kangra, was fourth With 417 marks and Swati Sharma of Government Senior Secondary School, Bathu Tipri, Kangra, was fifth with 415 marks.

In the vocational stream of class XII examination, first position was bagged by Abhishek Chauhan of Government Senior Secondary School, Ghumarvin, Bilaspur, who secured 81.25 per cent marks, obtaining 650 marks out of 800 marks, Ravinder Singh also of the same school was second with 629 marks, Ashish Mahajan of Government Boys Senior Secondary School, Chamba, was third with 626 marks, Madhu Bala of Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Portmore, Shimla, was fourth With 615 marks and Vishal Kumar of Government Senior Secondary School, Barotiwala, was fifth with 611 marks. Rahi said 749 students had appeared in the examinations of the vocational stream, out of which 424 students had successfully passed the examinations. The overall pass percentage stands at 56.60 per cent.

The students who were not satisfied with their results could submit their duly completed re-evaluations forms along with requisite fee, latest by May 17 without the late fee. However, with late fee of Rs 50, the last date has been fixed for May 24, 2007.

The overall result of the class is available on the website of the board(www.hpeducationboard.nic.in) or could also be inquired from the landline numbers - 01892-229033 and 01892-229037 of the education board, Rahi said.

Nurpur, April 27
The anti-copying drive in the annual examinations by the HP Board of School Education has begun to show results. The poor results of Government Senior Secondary Schools (GHSS) in the town and surrounding areas have dismayed parents of students who appeared in the matriculation examination conducted by the board.

The results declared by the board on Wednesday evening reflected the poor state of affairs in government schools. Inquiries revealed that in GHSS (boys) only two out of 80 students could get through the examination.

The board had cancelled the examination centre of the school last year in the wake of complaints of mass copying.

Similarly, in GHSS, Bhadwar, and Sadwan in the surrounding area only nine out of 113 and four out of 80 students got through, the examination respectively. Contrary to the the result of the local private IP Adarsh Public School, where the board had also cancelled the examination centre last year has shown excellent performance. As many as 100 out of 107 students have passed the examinations.

Meanwhile, residents of Sadwan gram panchayat led by ex-pradhan of the panchayat Ramesh Kalia today met the school principal and expressed their anguish over the poor matriculation results. They demanded to call an emergency meeting within one week. 

Jawalaji (Kangra), April 27
The SHO of the local police station allegedly beat up an employee of the local municipal council, who was on official duty, on the intervening night of Thursday and Friday. Senior police authorities have marked an inquiry into the incident.

As per the information, the SHO, Jawalaji police station, Surinder Thakur, while on a night patrol had some arguments with Harbans Singh, an employee of the local MC, who was on duty to collect tax from the buses passing through Jawalaji bus stand.

The SHO, who was allegedly under the influence of alcohol and wearing civil dress, thrashed Harbans along with his subordinates. He later fled the spot. Harbans has been admitted to a local hospital.

Employees of the MC today held a demonstration seeking suspension of the SHO and registration of a criminal case against him.

The local MLA and the SDM held a talk with the agitated employees and assured action against the SHO.

The incident was also brought to the notice of Ajay Yadav, SP, Kangra district, who had asked Santosh Patial, additional SP, to hold an inquiry into the incident.

Yadav said, “The inquiry report will be submitted to me late in the night or tomorrow morning and action will be taken accordingly.”

Shimla, April 27
With victory in the prestigious Shimla municipal corporation (MC) elections a must for both the Congress and the BJP, senior party leaders are personally monitoring each and every election issue.

Former Delhi Chief Minister and in charge of party affairs Sahib Singh Verma will hold a special meeting with the nine-member committee constituted by the BJP specifically for the MC elections, here tomorrow.

He is personally monitoring every development and will take the feedback from the committee headed by Suresh Bhardwaj, MP and former state party chief.

Besides, the BJP will be holding a meeting of 150 booth-level committees constituted earlier. This is being done to get feedback from the grassroot workers about the issues that should figure prominently in the election manifesto of the party.

Meanwhile, the Congress scrutiny committee headed by IPH minister Thakur Kaul Singh will also be meeting here tomorrow. The other members include forest minister Ram Lal Thakur, local MLA Harbhajan Bhajji, president of the Shimla (rural) Vidya Sagar and president of Shimla (urban) Arun Sharma.

Sources said the committee was likely to lay down broad parameters for the candidates to be fielded. This would include seniority and loyalty towards the party and winning prospects.

Meanwhile, over 100 applications had been received for the party ticket so far.

Shimla, April 27
The State Irrigation and Public Health Department has proposed to introduce the latest “cured-in-place pipe”(CIPP) technology to arrest leakage from the Shimla water supply scheme.

This will also provide a permanent solution to the problem of water contamination due to seepage in underground pipelines which led to the outbreak of jaundice in Shimla recently.

The technology which was developed in the United Kingdom, enables rehabilitation of old pipelines without any digging. The underground pipeline is lined from the inside using Epoxy Resin and a rapid setting polymer to make it leakproof.

The pipeline is opened from one end and lined upto 2 kms in one go. Using hi-tech equipment the thermosetting resin-saturated material is inserted into the pipeline and cured by hot water or steam to form a new seamless pipe of slightly less diameter to fit in snugly against the host pipe.

The polymer lining has a minimum life of 50 years which could extend upto 100 years. Though expensive, the technology is cost effective as the cost is recovered by way of water saved through preventing leakage.

At present about 30 to 35 per cent of water is lost and over 20 lakh litres of water is lost due to leakage in the pipeline at the reservoir at Sanjauli. The average cost of supply comes to Rs 34 per kilolitre and as such the returns on account of water saved will be about Rs 2.50 crore annually.

Besides, the leak proof inner lining will also prevent the contamination of water through seepage and thus help maintain the purity of water. The amount will be much more if the main distribution pipelines are also rehabilitated by the CIPP technique.

Since the CIPP has no joints and a very smooth interior surface, the flow capacity is improved despite a slight reduction in the diameter. The lining is capable of accommodating bends and existing pipe deformations.

Nurpur, April 27
HIMAGRICO, a unit of the State Agro Industries Corporation (SAIC) at Jachh near here, is facing closure thanks to the apathy of the state government which had failed to formulate a strategy to revive sick PSU units, notwithstanding Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh repeatedly asserting to revive sick PSUs by hiring the services of professional managers from outside the state.

This unit of the SAIC was set up in 1982 and earned handsome profits till 1994-95. It had workers strength of over 70 but now reduced to merely 20. Till today, HIMAGRICO is producing quality agricultural implements and other tools. In order to enhance production it is in dire need of adequate working capital.

According to official information, the unit has been running into losses for the past several years, but the state government has failed to take steps for its revival. During the past three years, it accumulated loss of around Rs 1 crore. Intriguingly, various government departments like Irrigation-cum-Public Health, PWD, Forest and Agriculture departments, which once were purchasing tools and other implements from HIMAGRICO, now making purchases from the open market.

Similar is the position of a honey-processing unit of the SAIC at Kandrori in this subdivision.

Meanwhile, Rajnesh Sharma, state general secretary of INTUC, has urged the Chief Minister to formulate a strategy to revive these units.

Palampur, April 27
Despite tall claims made by the Forest Department to check forest fires in the district, still large-scale reports of forest fires have been coming from various forest ranges in the region. Forest wealth worth crores of rupees was reportedly destroyed in forest fires in the past one week.

According to reports reaching here, a pine forest in the Kandi area was burnt this afternoon. In another report, pine forest near Khundia was on fire since last evening. Villagers have tried their best to control the fire, but have not succeeded.

Pine forests were also burnt near Ranital, Paror, Mehanja and Bindravan last night. Later the staff of the Forest Department controlled the fire. In another incident, a broad leaves spices forest was burnt near Jaisinghpur this morning. The fire has spread in the entire forest.

A senior officer of the HP Forest Department said there was shortage of manpower in the department. Besides, villagers were not cooperating with the forest officials.

Nahan, April 27
The local Agricultural Department is suffering from the paucity of staff. More than half of the posts of officials like agriculture development officers, subject matter specialists, agriculture extension officers and assistant agriculture development officers are lying vacant.

As per the latest data available for the Sirmour district, only the subject matter specialists are posted respectively at Pachhad, Nahan, Sanghra against the sanctioned strength of six officials. The vacant posts are prevailing at Paonta Sahib, Sillai and Rajgarh.

A total of 11 agriculture development officers against the sanctioned 26 posts and only 18 agriculture extension officers against the sanctioned strength of 75 has reportedly crippled the functioning of the department, rues K.L. Dhiman, district agriculture officer.

He claims that the department has to comprehensively arrange the inputs and disseminate new technologies to the farming community in blocks like Sillai, Pachhad, Rajgarh, Paonta Sahib, Nahan and Sanghra. The present strength fails to meet the target of organising training camps for the farmers.

The basic knowledge on medicines, sowing techniques of improvised seeds, quality of soil, new implements and fertilisers is not being disseminated to the farmers.

Another official says the situation goes worse in case of drought and deluge when teams are formulated to help the farmers.

A number of times requisitions have been made to the higher authorities, but nothing is being done, he adds.

Nahan, April 27
A man allegedly threw his wife into a well at a village in Paonta in the wee hours yesterday. The villagers later rescued her.

Parveena (19), wife of Feroj Khan of Sainwala Mubarakpur village, has alleged that her husband wake her up in the wee hours yesterday and took her to the village well on the pretexof some ritual. She was made to sit on the top of the well when her husband pushed her into the well. Hearing cries villagers rushed to rescue her.

Parveena got married to Feroj Khan on March 25 this year. In her complaint she alleged that after the marriage her husband demanded motorcycle and gold jewellery. After his demands were not met he planned to get rid of her, she alleged.

Feroj, meanwhile, refuted the charges and said at the time of incident he was sleeping at his home.