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Sister files FIR against industrialist
Shortage of staff, infrastructure mining dept’s bane
Raid-De-Himalaya winners felicitated
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Rohtang tunnel to be completed by 2014
DPS celebrates golden jubilee founder’s day
Allian-Duhangan Power Project
Plan to produce Muga silk in Dharamsala area
Appointments in Closed School
No road connectivity to eight villages
Ration thief steals their peace
Hail-hit apples hit growers’ income
DPS celebrates founder’s day
DTDO visits Chamba
U-14 athletics meet
De-addiction camp held
Sedition case against scribes condemned
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Sister files FIR against industrialist
Shimla, October 7 Urmila Sawhney, the victim, said here today that she was highlighting her plight in the media because she apprehended that the police would not take action against her influential industrialist brother who had high connections in Shimla and Delhi. She said her life and property were both under threat from her brother as she lived alone in Shimla and Delhi. She sought protection from the police and made it clear in the FIR that her brother and his wife would be responsible if anything happened to her. Narrating the incident she said she was stopped and beaten up with a stick by her elder brother while she was retuning to her house in Mashobra from her regular evening walk. Her only crime was that he advised him to settle the disputes with younger brother Satish Anand amicably. She was abused, slapped and mercilessly beaten up with a stick by her brother who also threatened to kill her. Satish Anand, who was also present at the press conference, said that he also feared that his elder brother might harm him too for standing by his harassed sister. He said there was some dispute between the brothers and two cases were in court but that the sister was not involved in it. Superintendent of police A.P.Singh said a medical examination of the victim had confirmed that she had been beaten and her body had simple injury marks. He said the Dhalli police would question the accused to ascertain the charges made in the FIR. |
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Shortage of staff, infrastructure mining dept’s bane
Shimla, October 7 Environmentalists have been making a hue and cry over the damage being caused to the environment because of the unscientific and illegal mining, particularly in the riverbeds, attracting the attention of the court but the government has not taken the required remedial measures to save the situation. The Mining Department continues to be starved of staff and vehicles. In the absence of adequate manpower and other basic infrastructure, the department is not in a position to keep a close watch on the legal mining activity, let alone the illegal mining. The workload of the department has been increasing with each passing day with new roads, bridges and cement plants and other projects coming up across the state. Almost 70 per cent of the senior technical posts are vacant. Out of the total 19 technical posts, 12 are vacant. Nine posts of technical assistants out of the 12 posts and three posts of geologists out of six posts are vacant. The department has only eight vehicles which restricts the mobility of the staff. Further, there are only eight mining officers, 29 mining inspectors and assistant mining inspectors and 72 mining guards to look after the entire state. Most of the district mining officers who are supposed to oversee the mining activities in the far flung areas are without vehicles. The department has initiated a proposal to create 30 new posts of mining inspectors and assistant mining inspectors and 100 additional posts of mining guards to effectively regulate the mining activity but it will have to be cleared by the government. Besides regulating mining, the department has to carry out geological investigations for the construction of roads and other projects. There are about 250 stone crushers, over 500 slate quarries and three big cement plants which are involved in large-scale mining. The government has approved five more mega cement plants which will come into production over the next three to five years, which would further add to the work load. Consequently, the production of cement will shoot up from the current 4.1 million tonne to 15 million tonne. The department is emerging as a major source of revenue and last year it earned Rs 48 crore as royalty from mining. The government should not only provide sufficient manpower, vehicles and other facilities to the department but also give computers, digital cameras and other equipment for effective monitoring of mining and excavation activity. |
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Raid-De-Himalaya winners felicitated
Manali, October 7 Suresh Rana of Manali won the rally for the fourth consecutive time. Due to heavy snowfall at the Baralacha Pass (4,883m) on the Manali-Leh highway, the rally concluded in the third leg of the race at Patseo, around 50 km from Keylong district headquarter of Lahaul and Spiti. Ashish Saurabh Maudgil emerged champion in the extreme two-wheeler category, while Rajesh Chalana won in the adventure four-wheeler category. Harpreet Singh Bawa stood second and Capt A.S. Bawa bagged the third position in the extreme four-wheeler category. In the extreme two-wheeler category, Sandeep Singh Matharoo and Sachin Ramesh Chavan got the second and the third positions, respectively. In the adventure four-wheeler category, Rajesh Chalana got the first position followed by Snehal Patel and Sanjay Aggarwal. Manjeev Bhalla, vice-president of the Himalayan Motor Sports, said 120 teams were flagged off from Shimla on October 1. Out of 38 participants in the extreme category, 16 finished successfully, whereas out of 55 participants in the adventure trail (for amateurs) category, 38 completed the race. In the two-wheeler section, 14 participants out of total 48 completed the race. The rally was truncated to three legs as it would not have been possible to complete the seven legs, as proposed earlier, due to inclement weather. Only four minor accidents were reported in the three legs of the race and medical aid was provided to the injured immediately, he added. The rally was cosponsored by the State Bank of India (personal banking wing) and supported by the Himachal Tourism, the Jammu and Kashmir Tourism and the Indian Army.
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Rohtang tunnel to be completed by 2014
Rohtang Pass, October 7 A young writer and poet from Lahaul, Ajey, told The Tribune that it would open the gates for tourists who would then be able to witness Lahaul’s rich cultural heritage. Prominent festivals like Halda, Fagli, Losar, Gochi, Yor and Sahni which are held in February and March when the entire valley wears a white blanket of snow from December to May every year could then be enjoyed by outsiders too. The tunnel will also open new gateway to adventure sports lovers. Norbu Panns, who runs ski school in Keyong says the valley has popular ski slopes like Sumnan, Godala, Triloknath, Barbag. But the Lahaulis are also worried about the pollution it will bring along. Manali commander of the Border Roads Organization (BRO) Naresh Mittal said the work on the road approaches were going on. The tender for the tunnel, in which eight firms are participating, will be finalised by February next and work will start in April, 2008. It is expected to be completed by 2014, he added. Mittal said three bridges would be built, one each at Palchan and Dhundi across Solang nalla, about 10 km from Manali and at Sissu across Chandra river in Lahaul valley to connect the present Manali-Leh highway through the Rohtang tunnel. |
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DPS celebrates golden jubilee founder’s day
Kumarhatti, October 7 He was addressing teachers, guardians and students of Dagshai Public School (DPS) on its 50th founders’ day function at Dagshai, 4 km from here, today. He said, as per the Supreme Court ruling, primary education for children below the age of 14 years was compulsory. The government was not in a condition to meet this requirement. It was in fact private institutions that were helping to provide education to all, he maintained. The Governor praised the DPS faculty for its relentless efforts to produce good academic results. He also inaugurated an exhibition put up by the students on the occasion. Sardar Saran Singh, Chairman, DPS said that the school has restricted its student’s admission to only 250. The idea was to keep healthy student and teacher ratio, he maintained. The DPS main focus was to give extra care to each student. Every student was like jewel to us. The 100 percent 1st division results of school was testimony to it. Mr. Sardar Saran Singh further said that it was reputation of school due to which good number of foreign students was getting enrolled here. Jalandhar Congress MP Rana Gurjeet Singh who is an ex-student of DPS said it was DPS from where he got basic lessons to excel in life. During the occasion old students of the school were felicitated. The mementos were given to the Governor, Rana Gurjeet Singh and Sudesh G.B. Singh, president of the International Punjabi Society. Principal of DPS Tejinderjit Singh welcomed the distinguished guests.
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Shepherds hit hard
Tribune News Service
Chhikka (Kullu), October 7 The project roads-14 km-long-Prini-Setan-Allain barrage road and the 15-km-long Jagatsukh-Khanol-Shage Ki Shari- the site of Duhangan intake tunnel road, has destroyed pastures and grazing fields, complained shepherds, who survived on pastures and meadows to support their over 2.07 lakh heads of sheep and goats. At stake are not only the shepherds, but also the foundation of Kullu's multi-million wool-based handloom industry. The shepherds depend on pastures and the handlooms depend on shepherds, who supply wool to the handloom industry, which has emerged as the economic backbone of a large population in the region, revealed experts. Worsening their plight is that these shepherds have no voice, no spokesperson and no lobby to raise their voice in the highly bureaucratised corridors of power. Tek Nath, a shepherd from Jagatsukh village, who has been grazing his herds in the Allain-Duhangan valley for the last 30 years, said the two roads had destroyed grazing areas- Khanol on the Duhangan side and Setan and Pandu Ropa from the Allain side. Shepherds rued that they do not find a single blade of grass and shrubs along the waysides because roads had been built along the treks. “The roads are like concrete traps as they have raised concrete walls on both sides, making it difficult for livestock to graze in course of their upwards and downwards journeys here”. There are over 2.6 lakh heads of sheep and goat and 1.75 bovines and 2,633 horses who survive on these pastures and shepherds are the backbone of the multi-million wool industry. Ironically, the government had appointed two committees--high power and low power committees to assess the damage done by the power project, but none of them reported the plight of shepherds. Deputy director, Animal Husbandry, Kullu, M.L. Sharma said: “We have no data as how many pastures have been destroyed by the projects and roads. Animal census is currently under progress in the district. Department looks after breeding, treatment and extension services to livestock population”, he added.
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Plan to produce Muga silk in Dharamsala area
Hamirpur, October 7 Though the Sericulture Department is still exploring the possibilities of growing golden silk cocoons, but if it succeeds the region will become the second place in the world to produce this variety. The Dharmsala area, which gets plenty of rains is being considered climatically suitable for growing cocoons for the golden silk, since the only other place producing the golden type is situated in the wet areas of Assam. The golden silk, which is also known as Muga silk is most sought after variety of silk through out the world, but is only found in Assam and it is a tradition among unmarried girls of Assam to weave their own wedding sarees from the golden silk. One saree of golden silk fetches some thing like Rs 20,000 to Rs 25,000 rupees in the open market. Dharamsala being a wet area has given the idea of growing the cocoons of the golden silk to the Sericulture Department as several climatically hot areas in Bilaspur, Una and Hamirpur are already growing cocoons of other varieties i.e. airy and mulberry. The proposal to grow silk cocoons on Oak trees is also being experimented in few areas of the region. Sericulture officer of the Nadaun division Om Saran Sharma said “We are still exploring the possibilities of growing cocoons of golden silk in the Dharamsala area with the technical support from the Central Silk Board of the Government of India and if we succeed Dharamsala will become the second place in the world producing this type of silk”.
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Teacher rendered jobless threatens to go on fast
Our Correspondent
Nurpur, October 7 He said he was befooled by the primary education department by appointing him a PTA and then terminating his services. In a memorandum submitted to Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, he has demanded the restoration of his services and being adjusted at some nearby primary school. He said he would go on indefinite fast if the department failed to restore his services in a month. Deep Raj of Bassa village in Chhatar Jogian gram panchayat was appointed a PAT for government primary school at Pandora under the Block Primary Education Office (BPEO) Raja Ka Talab by the local gram panchayat and the BPEO on September 12. The vacancy was advertised in a Hindi newspaper on August 21. However, the school had been closed around four years ago for want of students. In fact, two PATs were appointed for this school. Deep Raj, who belonged to an IRDP family, submitted his joining report to the centre head teacher at Chhatar government public school on September 17 after signing an agreement with the local gram panchayat. However, when the alleged negligence of the authorities was highlighted, the department swung into action and terminated his services. The deputy director (primary education), Dharamsala, said explanation was sought from the BPEO, Raja Ka Talab, and it had been forwarded to the director (primary education) for further action. “The BPEO should not have called applications for the posts of PATs in a closed school. If it had happened inadvertently, the selected candidates should not have been allowed to join duty,” he said.
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No road connectivity to eight villages
Dharamsala, October 7 The reason is that these villages of the district bordering Jammu and Kashmir are falling under the protected area of a wildlife sanctuary. As such, no construction work can be allowed in the sanctuary area as per the Forest Act and the instructions of the Supreme Court. The PWD, which is the main agency in charge of constructing vital transport infrastructure within the state is facing difficulty in starting the rural road projects envisaged to connect these eight village panchayats. PWD chief engineer R.S. Kanwar while talking to The Tribune said these village panchayats falling under the wildlife sanctuary area are Junas, Saprot, Athloni, Kapara, Soori, Khadjota, Singhadhar and Tunda. He said the state government was having enough funds to construct the road for these villages, but the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests had so far not given its clearance to these projects. The government has suggested providing funds to the Forest Department so that they can carry out the construction work ‘sensitively’ the chief engineer said.
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Ration thief steals their peace
Mandi, October 7 The police has arrested him earlier, but let him off as he was found guilty of stealing only “eatables and harmless otherwise”. But he has been on the prowl again in Didar and Balog villages on periphery here. He stole “ration and a pressure cooker of villagers and escaped into the Kangni jungle. The villagers have spotted him many times, but failed to catch him as he “When I wake up early in the morning, I found ration missing,” said Bhagat Singh Guleria, a resident of Didar village near here. “Similar thefts have been reported from other villages also. He does not take cash or jewellery,” he added. Villagers say he lives in a temple at the Kangni top. Even the village pets and stray dogs do not bark at him as he seems to have befriended them. The villagers are now fed up with his stealing spree that has extended over months. Earlier, they used to take it lightly, but now their patience is getting exhausted. Some people say he is a Nepalese, others says he is a roaming "Bengala" and has been involved in stealing eatables from different places. ASP Rajesh Dharmani said he was a petty thief of eatables and was arrested in the past as well and was set free. “The police is searching for him again,” he added.
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Hail-hit apples hit growers’ income
Shimla, October 7 “The hailstorm that hit the apple growing regions in June and July has affected 50-60 per cent of the total production in the state. The prices of hail-mark fruits have slumped in the market drastically,” Apple Growers’ Association president Ravinder Chauhan said. “We are selling good quality apple at Rs 20 per kg, while for hail-mark apples, we are getting only Rs 5-10 a kg. There are not many takers for the hail-mark apples in the market and hence growers are selling at a throwaway prices,” apple grower Prakash Thakur said. “The hail-mark apples are selling between Rs 5-10 a kg depending on the damage. More spots on apples mean a lower price. Prices have gone down by 50 per cent as compared to quality apples,” the Himachal Apple Growers’ Association president Lek Raj said. Hail-mark apples exported to other states are selling at a lesser price of Rs 400-450 per box of 20-23 kg as compared to quality apples that are fetching Rs 1000-1,100 a box, he said, adding that about 2 crore boxes had been exported to Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai and Chandigarh. Apple production is estimated to rise over 50 per cent to 2.5-3 crore boxes this year, against 1.5 crore boxes in 2006, Raj said. Shimla is the heartland of apple production in the state and accounts for around 60 per cent of the entire apple produce.
— PTI |
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DPS celebrates founder’s day
Kumarhatti, October 7 He was addressing teachers, guardians and students of Dagshai Public School (DPS) on its 50th founders’ day function at Dagshai, 4 km from here, today. He said, as per the Supreme Court ruling, primary education for children below the age of 14 years was compulsory. The government was not in a condition to meet this requirement. It was in fact private institutions that were helping to provide education to all, he maintained. The Governor praised the DPS faculty for its relentless efforts to produce good academic results. He also inaugurated an exhibition put up by the students on the occasion. Sardar Saran Singh, chairman, DPS, said the school has restricted its student’s admission to only 250. The idea was to keep healthy student and teacher ratio, he maintained. |
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DTDO visits Chamba
Chamba, October 7 He hardly got any wholehearted cooperation from the departments concerned, especially the revenue department, while seeking requisite land records and other information despite government directive. However, the DTDO identified many places where small tourism schemes were viable and tourism could be promoted by raising welcome gates, developing picnic spots, landscaping and beautifying selected points. Meanwhile, official sources said various projects for the development of tourist circuits and destinations had been undertaken in the state with the financial assistance of around Rs 62.77 crore received from Union Ministry of Tourism. These projects also included integrated development projects of Buddhist circuit with an outlay of
Rs 7.9 crore. |
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U-14 athletics meet
Nurpur, October 7 Results : 100-meters race: Diksha, Meenakshi and Manjna were declared first, second and third respectively. 200-meters race: Shipa, Shammi and Sumana won the first, second and third positions. 400-meters race: Anuradha, Shammi and Shivani were adjudged first, second and third. High jump: Mamta was adjudged first, whereas none could qualify for the second and the third positions. Long jump: Anuradha and Sushma were declared first and second but none could qualify for the third position. Cross country (3 km): Anuradha, Priya and Shilpa were won the first, second and third positions respectively. |
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De-addiction camp held
Nurpur, October 7 HP Information and Public Relation Department deputy director Rajinder Rajan presided over the camp. Rajan exhorted women to come forward to check the burgeoning menace of drug addiction and drug trafficking in the area. Kangra Red Cross Society secretary S.M. Abrol said the society had so far distributed artificial limbs free of cost to 17,000 disabled persons. |
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Sedition case against scribes condemned
Bilaspur, October 7 Federation president Jai Kumar said here today that it was for the first time in the history of Himachal that the police had registered such a case against journalists. He said if the top brass of the state government was not involved in this conspiracy against unfettered journalism, the Chief Minister should immediately order dropping of this case. |
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The police has registered an FIR against a leading industrialist and chairman of a auto-part manufacturing company of Parwanoo for allegedly beating up his 70-year old younger sister.
Urmila Sawhney, the victim, said here today that she was highlighting her plight
in the media because she apprehended that the police would not take action
against her influential industrialist brother who had high connections in Shimla
and Delhi.
The prize distribution function of the Raid-De-Himalaya rally was held at the Directorate of Mountaineering and Allied Sports here today. Dignitaries from Maruti, Airtel and the State Bank of India gave away the prizes to the winners.
