Shimla, June 19
The appointment of senior Congress leader R.K. Dhawan as in charge of party affairs in Himachal Pradesh has come as a setback for detractors of Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh who have been gunning for his scalp in the wake of Hamirpur electoral debacle.

Dhawan’s proximity to Virbhadra Singh is a common knowledge. He played a key role in installing him as the Chief Minister after the 2003 Assembly elections in the face of a stiff challenge from his arch rival Vidya Stokes. The rival camp had been lobbying to have Mohsina Kidwai in the key position, but the high command opted for Dhawan.

The development has come as a big relief to the Chief Minister who has been under attack. Appointment of a leader favourably disposed towards him indicates that his wishes are still respected by the high command. It is all the more important as the in charge has a vital role to play in the election year when key issues like leadership, election strategy and the distribution of ticket are to be decided.

The change was overdue as Ambika Soni, the outgoing in charge, had not been able to spare time for party affairs ever since she became a minister in the Union Cabinet more than a year ago. Obviously, the high command is now taking the hill state, where elections are due in February, 2008, seriously.

Dhawan has his task cut out and not an easy one. Boosting the morale of the workers that has taken a plunge following the party’s defeat in the Hamirpur byelection is the biggest challenge in front of him.

It will be interesting to see what strategy Dhawan adopts against suspended leader Vijay Singh Mankotia, who undermined the party’s electoral prospects in Hamirpur by releasing an audio CD against Virbhadra Singh. Mankotia had virtually raised a banner of revolt against the party and some other disgruntled leaders had joined him.

Political activity in Congress circles is bound to gather momentum as important pending issues awaiting the attention and intervention of the high command will now be taken up. Another challenge before him will be to bring about rapprochement between Virbhadra Singh and Vidya Stokes. 

Manali, June 19
With water of majority of the rivers of the state being used by Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Delhi without any return, noted environmentalist Sunder Lal Bahuguna has strongly supported water royalty for the hill state.

The state should get water royalty in lieu of usage of its water by other states, he said.

He asked the state government to make a strong plea before the Central Government on the issue.

While water of the Sutlej, the Beas, Pabbar and other rivers of the state was being used by Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan and Delhi without any benefit for the hill state in return, Himachal was facing water shortage due to drying up of many sources because of coming up of many developmental projects, he said yesterday.

He was here to lead a protest against Ski Village coming at Kothi in Kullu district. He advocating water royalty for the state would give credence to the state’s long-pending demand for water cess.

According to an estimate, the state government could get an additional revenue of Rs 90 crore if it started getting water cess. — PTI

Shimla, June 19
Himachal Pradesh University (HPU) will be the first institute in the country to start a five-year integrated course in Tourism Administration.

The UGC has sanctioned Rs 39 lakhs as grant-in-aid to the Institute of Vocational Studies, Department of Tourism Administration, HPU, for starting the course.

The five-year course in tourism would be started under the innovative programme of teaching and research in inter disciplinary and emerging areas.

The UGC has approved of 25 seats in the course per year as well as posts for starting the course.

Students who have cleared their +2 in any stream with a minimum of 50 per cent would be eligible to apply for the three-year Bachelor course in tourism, followed by two-years postgraduate course in Masters in Tourism Administration (MTA). 

Dharamsala, June 19
The infamous scam of the black-marketing of essential commodities in the tribal village of Bara Bhangal in Baijnath subdivision of Kangra, that came to light in February this year, has taken a new turn with the district administration having decided to register a criminal case against the alleged guilty persons in this regard.

Earlier, the local police had registered a case under the Essential Commodities Act against two persons on the complaint of the Food and Civil Supplies Department.

Hundreds of quintals of ration meant for distribution under the Public Distribution System (PDS) among the 1,200 residents of Bara Bhangal village had gone missing during the months of August, September and October, last year.

It may be mentioned that this village is situated at a height of about 9,000-feet in the far flung remote area of the district and is usually cut-off during the winters from the rest of the state due to heavy snowfall.

Details available from the Food and Civil Supplies Department revealed that the authorities concerned of the department had dispatched a total of 1,306 quintals of ration in the months of August, September and October through a transport contractor to be handed over to the cooperative society of Bara Bhangal for distribution among the residents under the PDS.

However, Rai Singh, secretary of the village cooperative society had received 203.33 quintals in August, 348.32 in September and 125 quintals in October, last year.

However, the Food and Civil Supplies in Paprola revealed that they had dispatched a total of 1,306 quintals of ration to Bara Bhangal village during the months of August, September and October.

Since then, no body knows where the rest of the 630 quintals of ration had gone?

Among those found guilty in the magisterial probe include the local patwari and headmaster of the school, both members of the committee, secretary and salesman of the committee, police sources revealed.

Solan, June 19
The release of toxic effluents by some industrial units along with flash floods has been pointed out as the reason for large scale fish mortality in river Sarsa last week.

Though a detailed analysis is yet to be completed, a highly placed source in the pollution control board (PCB) confirmed that sampling of about 5 units, lying in the 25 km stretch of Sarsa river, had pointed towards some glaring irregularities.

According to sources in the board, samples of two units had been found “not confirming to the standards” while those drawn from other units “had been found in conformity to the pollution norms”.

It was, however, an alarming sign if the hazardous waste generated by the two units was dumped into river Sarsa right at the onset of rains. This waste is supposed to be scientifically stored in leakage-proof lined pits so that no harm was caused to terrestrial or aquatic life. It’s unscientific storage attracted the provisions of hazardous waste disposal and handling rules and the unit was liable to face action.

This waste was generated by about 500 units in this industrial area, including large scale pharmaceutical units, pesticide as well chemical producing units.

The incidence of fish mortality had exposed chinks in the regulation of hazardous waste producing industrial units.

The newly created department of environment has taken serious note of this issue relating to environmental hazards. It’s principal secretary J.P.Negi said no unit found responsible would be spared as any laxity, if left unpunished, would set a wrong precedence.

The department of environment had further directed the PCB to submit a detailed report on this incidence within two days.

Appropriate action would be taken against those found responsible, both, for regulation as well as violators of norms. 

Solan, June 19
In a rare distinction, two students from Himachal Pradesh have been selected for the international space station design workshop to be held in mid-July in Sydney.

Neeraj Kohli and Ashish Sharma, of J.P. University, Solan, would be among the 30 from across the world to participate in the workshop to be held from July 16 to July 21.

The workshop is being organised jointly by the University of Sydney and University of Stud Grand, Germany.

Noted Indian-American astronaut Sunita Williams, who created a record for the longest uninterrupted space flight by a woman, is also expected to participate in the workshop.

The participants would design space stations under the guidance of experienced astronautical scientists.

“It’s a great feeling. I am looking forward to learn new things from leading space scientists from across the world,” Kohli told PTI.

He informed that he would be leaving for Sydney on July 13.

Kohli, son of a CRPF officer, currently serving in Jammu and Kashmir, had won gold medal in space design school competition at NASA last year.

His paper on space habitat has recently been selected by International Astronautical Congress.

Kohli had a conversation with Williams, a crew member of space shuttle Atlantis, recently through video-conferencing.

His father R. Kohli told PTI over the phone from Jammu and Kashmir that his son had been greatly interested in space science since childhood.

“Neeraj (22) used to glean through the latest in space science from different magazines and journals”, R. Kohli said, expressing pleasure at the achievements of his son.

Neeraj’s friends and relatives, on condition on anonymity, however, complained of no encouragement from the Central or Himachal Government.

In the absence of any financial assistance from the union and the state governments, Neeraj had to make to the NASA last year, through assistance from friends and relatives, they said.

They also highlighted the problems faced by him in getting clearance for foreign tours.

While the world eulogised the feats of Kalpana Chawla and Sunita Williams, a native boy, who was following their footsteps, was getting no assistance from the government, they complained. Such things discouraged others to continue with such pursuits, they added. — PTI

Shimla, June 19
The Chanshal slopes in Rohru will be developed for skiing and connected with ropeways to promote winter sports and tourism activities.

This was stated by Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, while speaking at the concluding ceremony of the Maharaja Padam Singh Cricket Tournament-2007, organised by the Rohru Cricket Association at the Indira Gandhi Stadium at Rohru today.

He said that Kalgah Pattan was also being explored from the tourism point of view and would add to the area benefiting local populace with direct and indirect employment and enhanced economic activities. He said the area had vast tourism potential which was being exploited with ecological safeguards.

He said the landlocked Dodra Kwar area would be connected with rest of the world as the road construction through Chanshal heights had been completed and was likely to be opened shortly.

The CM said experts had confirmed that Chanshal slopes were most suitable for ski runs and sports activities for which the required infrastructure would be created. It would help boost adventure sports linked with tourism promotion and explore more avenues of income generation to the people in the valley. He said his government proposed to construct an international cricket stadium near Shimla in future.

The team of LIC, Chandigarh, won the tournament and won a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh, defeating KCA, Karnal, in the final who received a cash prize of Rs 50,000.

Sundernagar, June 19
The Sessions Judge, Mandi, A.C.Dogra, today convicted Mohamad Magroob, a resident of Muzzafar Nagar, UP, in the infamous acid attack in which, one of the victims lost her eye sight and the other 10 suffered burn injuries.

The accused was sentenced to rigorous imprisonment for life and was directed to pay Rs one lakh to the victim, Mamta, as compensation under Section 307 of the IPC. Mamta had lost both her eyes and her face was disfigured in the incident.

The accused was further convicted under Section 324 of the IPC to undergo rigorous imprisonment for one year and to pay a fine of Rs 2000.

It is pertinent to mention here that on May 27, the victim, Mamta, a college student, boarded a bus from Mandi to Kothi Koon. Magroob also got on the same bus and was carrying acid in a bottle which he threw on Mamta.

Other 11 persons were also injured in the attack. However, the accused managed to flee after the attack but was subsequently arrested on the complaint of Manohar, a victim of the attack.

Dharamsala, June 19
In less than a year of beginning the trial, a fast-track court of Kangra district based at Dharamsala today held a man guilty of murder and sentenced him to life imprisonment.

Accused Kewal Krishan, alias Kalu, shot dead Dharam Pal (22), on June 6, 2006. The accused was arrested and produced in a local court for trial. Later, the trial was referred to the fast-track court.

Agreeing to the point of view of the prosecution, Additional Session’s Judge L.R. Sharma sentenced Kalu to life imprisonment and also imposed a fine of Rs 20,000 on him. On failing to deposit the fine, the accused would have to undergo another one-year imprisonment.

Nahan, June 19
Close on the heels of its recent victory in Uttar Pradesh Vidhan Sabha elections, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) is now making sincere efforts to make its presence felt in Himachal Pradesh also, before the forth coming HP Assembly elections in 2008. Working on its recently chalked out mass agitation strategy, the BSP today organised a district level rally at Nahan in which over 300 party workers participated.

Led by its national general secretary and incharge of party affairs in Himachal Pradesh, Man Singh Manhera, the party workers assembled at Katcha Tank and went up to the office of deputy commissioner, Sirmour, through main market, shouting slogans against the state and union governments. They also raised slogans against rising corruption and inflation in the country.

Later, they sat on Dharna in front of the main gate of DC office. The workers were addressed by a number of office bearers of the party including Man Singh Manhera, Arjun Singh, BSP MLA from Chhachhraulli (Haryana) and district president Davender Singh Rippa.

Speakers alleged that the UPA government, in connivance with corrupt officers and grain hording forces of the country, was proving fatal for the countrymen.

Inflation was constantly increasing due to which, survival of the poor had become difficult. The union government was protecting criminals, corrupt officers and businessmen and commission agents of defence deals. 

Palampur, June 19
The sudden rise in the number of monkeys in the state has become a matter of serious concern for farmers and fruit growers as herds of monkeys enter the fields and destroy the standing crop.

There are more than five lakh monkeys in Himachal. Out of these, over 80 per cent live in cities, towns and villages, far outside forest areas. The gravity of the situation can be judged from the fact that out of a total of 3,200 panchayats, 2,320 have been been badly affected by monkeys.

According to a survey conducted by voluntary organisation Gian Vigyan Samiti, crops worth Rs 400 crore are destroyed by monkeys and other animals in the state every year. Convener of the samiti Onkar Shaad said farmers had been agitating for the past more than three years. They had submitted memorandums right up to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, but no effective steps had been initiated to solve the problem.

Villagers, however, feel the problem has become more acute because monkeys have been provided “over-protection” under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and the Wild Life Protection Act. Another important factor responsible for their increase is due to a ban on their export.

The Gian Vigyan Samiti, the Himachal Pradesh Kishan Sabha, the Save Palampur and the Palampur Welfare and Environment Protection Forum have urged the government to lift the ban on the export of monkeys.

Thousands of acres of land in the state have gone barren because of the fact that farmers have stopped cultivation in view of the damages being caused to the crop by monkeys. Despite repeated complaints to SDMs and wildlife officers, no one is bothered to look into the matter.

The worst affected areas are Shimla and its suburbs. Besides, in Palampur, Baijnath, Paprola and lower areas of Palampur, the residents are fed up with the increasing monkey menace.