Brand Bazaar
Catching-up with the other modern towns of Himachal, Hamirpur has also joined the brand-bandwagon with much fervour. The sleepy town that didn’t even have a single noticeable show room of ready wears till a few years back, can now boast of some major apparel brands having set shop here.

Return of theatre
Despite the absence of a proper stage and cultural hub in Mandi, the Himachal chapter of the Indian People Theatre Association (IPTA), has taken a slew of steps to revive theatre in Mandi under the ‘Education through culture’ programme of the Central Cultural Ministry.

SHIMLA DIARY
Debris chokes hill state

UNScientific disposal of debris is emerging as a major problem because of the failure of local municipal authorities and public works department to create dumping sites. The concern of the government in this regard is confined just to hydroelectric projects, cement plants and other big projects and it is mandatory for such projects to create proper dumping sites as a part of the environment management plan. However, no such steps have been taken to ensure proper disposal of debris generated due to construction of roads, houses, commercial complexes and other structures, which is taking place on a massive scale. Debris damaging the forest near Shimla’s bypass road. Photo by S. Chandan

Powerless
Builders in the state continue to play hide and seek with the state electricity board. The board has no idea of the electricity demand for newly built multi-storey apartments, as lesser figures are mentioned in the project reports.

Coping up with life
She is alone and clueless. She looks speechless and motionless. Maya who has lost her two siblings in slum fire at Baddi last week is trying to accept the harsh situation.

the Lion in trouble

A Lion safari spread over seven hectare of forest land on the bank of pious Renuka Lake is home to a family of 13 Asiatic Lions. It attracts many tourists and wildlife lovers every year but hardly any visitors know that this large family of lions may become extinct due to genetic ailments, a result of over 30 years of inbreeding. State Wildlife Wing of Forest Department has added more woe in their fight by ignoring directions of Central Zoo Authority (CZA) of India since long in this regard.

Experts: Reap benefit of rainfall
As agriculture in Himachal is being greatly affected by weather during the past few days,the state agriculture university here has constituted an interdisciplinary core team of scientists to chalk out weather-based advisories for farmers.