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THE TRIBUNE SPECIALS
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TERCENTENARY CELEBRATIONS
H I M A C H A L    P R A D E S H    E D I T I O N

Operators demand meters at reasonable rates
Dharamsala, April 29
No taxi will ply in the state tomorrow as the taxi operators’ associations have called for ‘chakka jam’ for one day in protest against the alleged inability of the state government in providing meters for installation in the taxis at reasonable rates.
Taxi operators hold a protest march against the government’s directive to install meters in taxis at Dharamsala
Taxi operators hold a protest march against the government’s directive to install meters in taxis at Dharamsala.—Tribune photo by Kulwinder Sandhu

Auditorium at Chamba demanded
Chamba, April 29
With the passage of time, Chamba town has become a hub of various cultural, social, commercial and political activities and to meet the day-to-day requirement of such activities and festivities, there is an urgent need to construct an auditorium in the town.

Warned against vandalism
Kangra, April 29
Himachal Pradesh transport and tourism minister G.S. Bali today warned taxi operators against taking the law in their own hands, after they assaulted an RTO and his staff, who were on official duty. The minister said vandalism would not be tolerated.

The RTO’s driver who was allegedly beaten up by taxi operators at Dharamsala on Saturday.—A Tribune photograph

The RTO’s driver who was allegedly beaten up by taxi operators at Dharamsala on Saturday

Find a solution, but be humane
Readers’ response to our debate has been passionate. Although all of them agree that canine menace has assumed alarming proportions, the undercurrent of love for “the most faithful companion of man” is clearly evident in most of the suggestions they make. The response has been a blend of tender feelings for the animal and some tough measures, including the extreme step — extermination.


Launch of The Tribune’s HP edition




YOUR TOWN
Chamba
Hamirpur
Dharamsala
Kangra
Shimla
Nahan


EARLIER STORIES



Plan to limit stray dogs on the anvil
Shimla, April 29
The Animal Welfare Board of India has decided to launch an aggressive campaign to sterilise stray dogs in the country and vaccinate them against rabies which will help save about Rs 500 crore annually spend on importing drugs to treat dog bites.

Sterilisation and vaccination of dogs mandatory: MC
Shimla, April 29
Having launched a pilot project for the mass sterilisation of stray dogs in the city, the local Municipal Corporation proposes to make sterilisation and vaccination against rabies mandatory for pet dogs.

Farmers taking to cash crops
Shimla, April 29
The area under foodgrain crops in the hill state has started declining but for the good. More and more farmers are diversifying to cash crops like off-season vegetables with the extension of irrigation facilities. In 2000-2001 principal crops maize, wheat and rice were sown over 8.14 lakh hectares. However, the area under these crops came down to 7.95 lakh hectares last year.

Accused still at large
Kangra, April 29
Himachal Pradesh Transport Minister Mr G.S.Bali today expressed concern over the shooting incident on Friday night by a youth to terrorise a senior journalist. He said Kangra district police chief A.K.Yadav had been instructed to nab the culprit.

9 hurt in blast at factory
Parwanoo, April 29
Nine workers sustained burn injuries when a pipe carrying melted iron burst at a unit here in wee hours today. The incidence took place in Treveni Casting in Sector 5 at 3.20 am when workers were busy in their work.

Ensure better services to the poor: Speaker
Nahan, April 29
Speaker of the HP Vidhan Sabha G.R. Mussafir inaugurated the all-India triennial conference here today.

Mystery fever: 150 examined
Bharmour (Chamba), April 29
Following a report about the outbreak of a mystery fever among some children in Kugti village of Bharmour tribal sub-division in Chamba district, a team of doctors from the Government Community Health Centre Bharmour, today examined more than 150 people.

Cong ‘flouting’ code of conduct
Hamirpur, April 29
BJP spokesman Rajinder Rana has accused the state government of violating the election code of conduct after the announcement of the Shimla municipal and Hamirpur parliamentary elections.

Direct recruits’ demand opposed
Shimla, April 29
The Himachal Pradesh Promottee School Lecturers Association has opposed the demand of direct lecturers for raising the quota of direct recruitment from 40 to 86 per cent.

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Taxis to stay off the road today
Operators demand meters at reasonable rates
Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, April 29
No taxi will ply in the state tomorrow as the taxi operators’ associations have called for ‘chakka jam’ for one day in protest against the alleged inability of the state government in providing meters for installation in the taxis at reasonable rates.

The operators have said that the state government will be solely responsible for the inconvenience caused to the tourists due to the strike.

A spokesman of the taxi operators’ association of the state said the taxi operators across the state were ready to install meters in their cabs, but these were not available at the notified sales centres.

It was learnt that the meters were being made available shortly at selected sales counters at Shimla and Dharamsala for Rs 3,800 and Rs 3,600, respectively. However, the rates of such meters vary from Rs 1,200 to Rs 1,500 per piece in New Delhi.

According to taxi operators, the state government and the Transport Department authorities were adamant on ensuring financial gains for a particular meter-manufacturing firm that was allegedly owned by a close relative of a senior politician of the ruling party.

They said they should be allowed to purchase meters from anywhere outside the state, which could be checked and passed for installation by the Transport Department, or the department should provide meters at reasonable rates.

Meanwhile, taxi operators of Dharamsala, McLeodganj, Kangra and other adjoining places did not ply vehicles on the second consecutive day. They staged a protest against the authorities concerned of the district administration for challaning taxis.

On the other hand, a total loss of at least Rs 2 crore was estimated to the tourism industry in the state due to the one-day ‘chakka jam’ of taxi operators in the state.

The loss to the tourism industry as a whole was further likely to rise if the solution to the problems of the taxi operators was not made at the earliest.

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Auditorium at Chamba demanded
Our Correspondent

Chamba, April 29
With the passage of time, Chamba town has become a hub of various cultural, social, commercial and political activities and to meet the day-to-day requirement of such activities and festivities, there is an urgent need to construct an auditorium in the town.

For this unique venture, sufficient space is available in the town near the Akhandchandi Palace where a shabby ruin stands idle giving an ugly look to the nearby heritage landmark.

On this site, an auditorium can be raised which would be of paramount value to the future generations as well as the administration for organising symposiums, workshops, conventions, conferences etc. The need for such an auditorium was virtually being experienced by everyone so far.

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Warned against vandalism
Our Correspondent

Kangra, April 29
Himachal Pradesh transport and tourism minister G.S. Bali today warned taxi operators against taking the law in their own hands, after they assaulted an RTO and his staff, who were on official duty. The minister said vandalism would not be tolerated.

Bali was addressing a press conference at his residence, here, this afternoon. He said taxi operators took the law into their own hands by assaulting RTO Kulu S.L. Saini for hauling up seven taxis without meters and drivers who were not in their uniforms, near Dharamsala yesterday. The operators took away Saini’s official documents and damaged his vehicle.

Bali said the government would not tolerate attacks on government officials and damage of official documents and property..

Bali added that the transport department was implementing the decision of the High Court to install meters in taxis. Those who refused to do so were violating the court’s directions.

He said there were about 4,000 to 5,000 registered taxis in the state. Private vehicles, being used by their owners as taxis, were not only violating the law, but were also posing risks for persons travelling in them. He said the work of installation of meters, which were available at Dharamsala and Shimla, was deferred earlier from April 1, 2007 to April 11 and then to April 23. There will be no further extension of these dates.

Bali said this decision was taken by the government after a series of meetings with taxi operator unions. He said this public-interest decision would be implemented at any cost and the government would not succumb to any pressure and tactics by the taxi operators.

The minister said the taxi operators’ claim that meters were not available at Dharamsala was untrue, adding that besides the authorised distributor, meters were available at the RTO office as well.

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It’s a dog’s World: A tribune Debate  
Find a solution, but be humane

Readers’ response to our debate has been passionate. Although all of them agree that canine menace has assumed alarming proportions, the undercurrent of love for “the most faithful companion of man” is clearly evident in most of the suggestions they make. The response has been a blend of tender feelings for the animal and some tough measures, including the extreme step — extermination. Here goes a selection:

Disorganised urban planning and human overpopulation have led to a correspondingly huge population of stray dogs. They cause accidents and spread diseases like rabies. Killing stray dogs has proved ineffective in controlling rabies cases or the dog population. This is because dogs removed are easily replaced. They have awfully high breeding rate (twice a year, multiple births). Two dogs can multiply to over 300 (over a few generations) in three years. They are also highly territorial, with each dog having its fixed alcove. Whenever a territory becomes vacant, dogs from the neighboring areas move in to occupy it. So the territorial vacuums are soon filled again.

The local bodies should tackle the problem in a humane and scientific way. Killing of dogs should be replaced by mass sterilisation and immunisation initiative. Stray dogs should be surgically neutered and then released in their respective areas. They may also be vaccinated against rabies. These dogs will die their natural death and their numbers come down.

Gopal Krishan Sharma
Solan

II

The responsibility to tackle this problem should be entrusted to the municipal authorities and help should be provided by the Animal Husbandry Department. Vaccination and sterilisation of stray dogs should be undertaken. Municipalities should also have a dog-monitoring cell and the people should actively help them in the proper upkeep these animals so that the “faithful” becomes an asset rather then a liability.

Hitesh Lakhanpal
Dharamsala

III

The problem of stray dogs has to be tackled by the local self-government bodies. People should also come forward and adopt stray dogs.

Col Jaswant Singh Chandel, VSM
Kalol, Bilaspur

IV

As the population of stray dogs has increased drastically, the cases of dog bites have also increased. Catching of stray dogs by societies or municipal authorities and keeping them at appropriate places, coupled with sterilisation, can go a long way in checking this menace. There is no need to kill them. They also have a right to live, so let them live, too.

Ram Krishan Sharma
Dhanot, Theog

V

The Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals should think of ways and means to check this menace without loss of any time. I am of the opinion that the municipal authorities should not shirk their responsibility of ensuring safety of the people. The government and the local authorities should ensure adequate supply of anti-rabies vaccine in dispensaries, health centres and hospitals to save those who happen to be the victims of the menace.

M.S. Garga
Summer Hill, Shimla

VI

Residents of big buildings can adopt a dog or two for the security of their complexes. They can pool in money for the upkeep of the dogs so adopted. Residents can also help the cause by providing funds to the authorities running shelters for dogs. Dogs are not a menace; they are our best friends. Killing them is no solution.

Samina Keskar
Shimla

VII

The best way out is to sterilise stray dogs. The state government should earmark funds for the purpose in the budget.

Bharat Kumar Gupta
Kandaghat (Solan)

VIII

Local residents or dog lovers living in a particular area should take upon themselves the responsibility of getting stray dogs vaccinated from time to time. This will go a long way in reducing the severity of the problem.

Anjali Sharma
Hiranagar (Hamirpur)

IX

The government should appoint a temporary task force to help in dispersing large groups of stray dogs. They must keep a record of dogs and ensure that these hostile groups have undergone the birth control procedure. Killing these should be the last resort when the situation goes out of control.

Zimpa Dorje
VTC, Shamshi, Kullu

X

With the implementation of the Animal Birth Control (Dog) Rules, 2001, the killing of stray dogs has been banned in India. Under the ABC programme, stray dogs are sterilised and vaccinated.

Following steps can help control dog-bite cases:

There should be at least one ABC centre in each district.

ABC camps should be conducted jointly by the local administration, local NGOs and the Department of Animal Husbandry.

NGOs working in this direction should be encouraged by the government.

Dr Munish Batta
Veterinary Officer, Parwanoo, Solan

 

Go get a stray for youself

I think sterilisation and constructing dog-houses with proper arrangements for their food and health can help. People can themselves do a lot in this direction. If not all, the dog lovers at least. How about having a not-so-impressive stray dog as a pet instead of a well-bread, costly dog?

Nidhi Kaith
Shimla

 

Killing them may help

Laws pertaining to cruelty towards animals may be okay, but these provisions should not be implemented at the cost of human lives. Strict action should be taken against those entrusted with the responsibility of ensuring the well-being of the people. Eliminating stray dogs is essential. Those keeping pets should be fined heavily in case their pet bites somebody.

Dr Surjit Singh Gulati
VPO Bhawarna, Palampur

There is a big gap between wishes of the rich and aspirations of the poor. When a stray dog bites the child of a poor man, the event is just a ‘normal’ happening for the rich because the child was bitten by an animal that is the most loved pet among their class. Even if the child dies of rabies, they will say the child died because proper treatment was not taken, but they will seldom blame it on the pet keeper.

I am not against the rearing of dogs, but I am against letting them go stray. The people should either rear the dog in proper manner or there should be no hesitation in killing such dogs so that thousands of poor children could be saved from dog bites and painful anti-rabies injections and scores from unfortunate rabies deaths.

Nand Lal Chogal
MONUC/DRC

Ideally, there should be only two categories of animals — wild ones, living in their natural habitat in forests with minimal human contact, and domesticated ones, kept in enclosures, attended outdoors and well looked after. Stray animals cause most of the trouble. The following steps can help: sterilisation, mandatory killing of mad dogs, catching and releasing stray dogs in forests or even supplying these to zoos/safaris as food for big cats.

G.K. Srivastava
Additional Secretary (Election), Shimla

The local authorities should be responsible for catching, keeping or killing stray dogs. Bitches should be rounded up, sterilised and released in their respective areas again. Puppies can be humanely put to sleep.

Vaccination facilities for pets should be made available at government dispensaries at nominal cost. Owners of pets should be made legally bound to get their pets vaccinated at regular intervals.

Jacqueline Merino
Mungla, near Banjar

We should not be inhumane in dealing with the “man’s best friend”. First of all, if possible, try to put them in shelters and then appeal to the public to adopt these. Set a deadline to “euthanise” them only as the last resort. Maybe, on hearing that some dogs will be killed after so many days, some kind-hearted people or voluntary organisations will come forward for help.

Mohit Mahajan
(a reader from the USA)

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Plan to limit stray dogs on the anvil
Tribune News Service

Shimla, April 29
The Animal Welfare Board of India has decided to launch an aggressive campaign to sterilise stray dogs in the country and vaccinate them against rabies which will help save about Rs 500 crore annually spend on importing drugs to treat dog bites.

Chairperson of the board R.M.Kharab said as per estimates there were about 20 million stray dogs in the country a number more than four times the acceptable level. It was hardly surprising that dog bites was a major problem and over 20,000 pertsons died annually after contacting rabies. Further, all tmedicines for treating rabies were imported and the country was spending about Rs 500 crore for the purpose.

The board had already launched five pilot projects in metros and so far 70,000 canines had been sprayed, vasectomised and castrated through non- government organisations, animal welfare societies and tlocal bodies. The cost of sterilisation was Rs 445 a dog and the board provided 50 per cent of the amount. Sterilisations would have to carried out at a much higher scale to bring down the canine population within the acceptable limits.

Along with sterilization, stray dogs were to be immunised against rabies through oral administration of the vaccine continuously for five years to rid the country of rabies . In Europe fox rabies had been stamped out by dropping oral vaccine in infested areas by helicopters.

Referring to the problem of stray cattle he said the board was working on a plan for establishing self-sustaining "gowshalas"(cow shelters). There were already about 4,000 small and big "gowshalas" across the country. It had already identified about 50 such gowshalas some of which had more than 15,000 animals.

These centres would produce a host of cow products like organic fertilisers, biogas, biopesticides, ayurvedic medicines, mosquito repellents and even generate power. Besides, they would also procure cow dung and urine from farmers so that they got some returns from non-productive animals. The main reason for the farmers abandoning the cattle was their low productivity. Once the farmers started getting returns they would have no compulsion to abandon the animals.

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Sterilisation and vaccination of dogs mandatory: MC
Tribune News Service

Shimla, April 29
Having launched a pilot project for the mass sterilisation of stray dogs in the city, the local Municipal Corporation proposes to make sterilisation and vaccination against rabies mandatory for pet dogs.

This was stated by Shekhar Gupta, commissioner of the Shimla Municipal Corporation, while speaking at a special camp for the registration of pet dogs organised by the Corporation, here today.

He said so far 902 stray dogs had been sterilised. The corporation plans to achieve the target of 100 per cent sterilisation by operating all the 2,500 stray dogs over the next one year.

The sterilised dogs were also vaccinated against rabies, in order to achieve the twin objective of stabilising the canine population and to make the city rabies free. In case of pet dogs, the effort was to ensure that every animal was registered.

In the next phase, the Animal Birth Control Society would work for the welfare of stray dogs by taking measures like their adoption, relocation and ensuring treatment of the sick.

The camp was inaugurated by the chairperson of the Animal Welfare Board of India, R.M. Kharab, by vaccinating a dog. He appreciated the effort of the corporation and said similar pilot projects would be launched in Dharamsala and Solan.

In all, 71 pet dogs were registered and 76 were vaccinated for free in the one-day camp.

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Farmers taking to cash crops
Tribune News Service

Shimla, April 29
The area under foodgrain crops in the hill state has started declining but for the good.

More and more farmers are diversifying to cash crops like off-season vegetables with the extension of irrigation facilities. In 2000-2001 principal crops maize, wheat and rice were sown over 8.14 lakh hectares. However, the area under these crops came down to 7.95 lakh hectares last year. The area under irrigation increased from 1.95 lakh hectares to 2.09 lakh hectares over the same period.

In the absence of irrigation facilities the farmers were totally dependent on the rain god and could not take the risk of growing vegetables or other cash crops which required assured irrigation. However, the expansion of irrigation network is proving a boon for the farmers, though it is making it more difficult for the state to achieve the elusive target of self-sufficiency in foodgrains.

Farmers in the areas brought under irrigation, particularly which have good road connectivity, are switching over to off-season vegetables the production of which is increasing with each passing year. The off-season vegetable production has shot up from 7.50 lakh tonnes in 2001-2002 to 9.50 lakh tonnes last year. The target for the current year is 10 lakh tones.

According to director of agriculture J.C.Rana, self-sufficiency in foodgrains is a desirable target but not the main priority. The emphasis now is on improving the economy of the farmers by maximising returns from small land-holdings.

While foodgrain crops yield Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 per hectare the returns from off-season vegetables is around Rs 50,000 per hectare and from floriculture up to Rs 80,000 per hectare.

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Attack on Editor
Accused still at large
Tribune Reporters

Kangra, April 29
Himachal Pradesh Transport Minister Mr G.S.Bali today expressed concern over the shooting incident on Friday night by a youth to terrorise a senior journalist. He said Kangra district police chief A.K.Yadav had been instructed to nab the culprit.

According to a report, Anil Soni, Editor, Divya Himachal, a Hindi daily, was on his way to Dharamsala from his office on Friday late in the evening along with four other officials of the daily when a Santro Car ( HP 39 B 1111) did not allow Soni’s car to overtake.

Anil Soni said when he signalled the Santro car driver for a pass he brandished his pistol and fired shots twice.

The Editor was, however, not injured because the driver fired in air. It was on Saturday evening 20 hours after the incident that an FIR was lodged by Soni through fax.

A.K.Yadav said the police raided the residence of car owner Bhiraj Kapoor late last evening and seized the licensed pistol used in the firing. Bhiraj Kapoor had absconded but the police was on his trail.

NURPUR: Condemning the incident, the Nurpur Press Club said such coercive and intimidating tactics would not throttle the voice of the media. The Chief Minister and the DGP were asked to take stern action against the culprit. 

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9 hurt in blast at factory
Jagmeet Y. Ghuman

Parwanoo, April 29
Nine workers sustained burn injuries when a pipe carrying melted iron burst at a unit here in wee hours today. The incidence took place in Treveni Casting in Sector 5 at 3.20 am when workers were busy in their work.

Though the exact reason behind the incidence was not yet known, the pipe suddenly burst and melted iron sprinkled on the workers standing near the spot. The workers, Raju Yadav, Shayam Bahadur, Raj Kumar, Subodh Jha and Parkash Chand, were rushed to local ESI Hospital from where they were discharged after giving the first aid. Other victims Chote Lal, Dinesh Yadav, Sarvan Kumar and Raju Ram, who sustained 30-40 per cent burn injuries, were refereed to PGI, Chandigarh.

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Ensure better services to the poor: Speaker
Our Correspondent

Nahan, April 29
Speaker of the HP Vidhan Sabha G.R. Mussafir inaugurated the all-India triennial conference here today.

Addressing the participants coming from different states, he asked the bankers to ensure quicker services to people coming to banks for availing benefits of the SC/ST/OBC welfare schemes, so that the poor could be benefitted at the earliest.

He said the nationalisation of banks had resulted in improvement in services.

He said the concept of development meant all-round development of society and everyone should be given a change to progress.

General Secretary of the All-India UCO Bank SC/ ST/OBC Employees Council, B.C. Poddar, asked members of the council to work for the uplift of their brethren who were still deprived of opportunities.

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Mystery fever: 150 examined

Bharmour (Chamba), April 29
Following a report about the outbreak of a mystery fever among some children in Kugti village of Bharmour tribal sub-division in Chamba district, a team of doctors from the Government Community Health Centre Bharmour, today examined more than 150 people.

The doctors reported that about 10 children were found suffering from cough, cold and pain in the throat. Other children who were suffering from the same symptoms, were given medicines and were advised precautionary measures. — OC

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Cong ‘flouting’ code of conduct
Tribune News Service

Hamirpur, April 29
BJP spokesman Rajinder Rana has accused the state government of violating the election code of conduct after the announcement of the Shimla municipal and Hamirpur parliamentary elections.

Addressing mediapersons here he said “Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh has been holding meetings with high officials to take certain decisions that can influence the voters and also transferring employees.” The BJP has made a written complaint to the Election Commission.

Cong for nominee from Hamirpur

The Hamirpur District Congress Committee has demanded that a candidate from this district should be given the ticket for the Hamirpur Lok Sabha byelection. General secretary Kuldeep Pathania and vice-president Rajinder Jar said the main issue in the election would be corruption.

They alleged that the BJP had become synonymous with corruption since its top leaders like Bangaru Laxman , Suresh Chandel and Babubhai Katara had been found making money by misusing their offices. 

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Direct recruits’ demand opposed

Shimla, April 29
The Himachal Pradesh Promottee School Lecturers Association has opposed the demand of direct lecturers for raising the quota of direct recruitment from 40 to 86 per cent.

The association pointed out that the strength of direct lecturers was only about 3,000 for which they had a 40 per cent quota. The rest 60 per cent quota catered to a strength of over 25,000, including headmasters, trained graduate teachers (TGTs) and promotee lecturers.

It also opposed the demand for a single cadre of lecturers as it was against the interests of TGTs and promotee lecturers.

President of the association Jiwan Sharma said the present ratio of 40 : 60 for direct recruits and promotees was working perfectly well and over the past two years 798 TGTs had been promoted as headmasters, 468 TGTs as school lecturers and 402 headmasters as principals. — TNS

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