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Inclement weather hits apple crop
Assess damage due to hail: Growers
CM brings smile back on their faces
Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal is all ears to a single woman outside the Vidhan Sabha in Shimla on Thursday. Tribune
photo by S. Chandan |
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70 pc jobs for Himachalis to be ensured
No ban on cement plants
Tibetan issue
Ramdev plans pharmacy
Vigilance confiscates school board record
Review of Decisions
PTA teachers protest in Mandi, Nahan
2 killed, 55 hurt in accident
Norms for
IITs, IIMs
Power project operational
Snow, rain plummet mercury
Probe sought into bridge construction
Bail granted to Malhotra
Protest by Tibetans
Power board employee electrocuted
3 killed in two mishaps
New DPRO for Bilaspur
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Inclement weather hits apple crop
Mandi, April 3 The chill has dashed farmers’ hope of a good fruit crop this year. According to the inputs received from the farmers, scientists and horticulture officials in the apple belt, over 50 per cent of the apple bloom has been destroyed in the lower-mid apple belts, where the weather has been inclement for the past three days. The intermittent rains and hails in many areas have washed the pollens of the flowers, which are essential for a good fruit crop, rued farmers. The mix of hails, sleet, rains have destroyed over 50 per cent of the bloom in the apple belt of Baghi, Chamain, Upper Khaneti, Jastla, Reoghati, Kufar Bagh, Chaithla and other pockets, which have experienced a sudden chill in the belt for the past two days, farmers said. “It hailed for 15 minutes in the upper Khaneti belt. The pink buds have fallen in the orchards located at 8,500 feet damaging over 50 per cent of the bloom so far and the weather is chilly and it is raining still”, said G.R. Chauhan, an apple grower from Gobindpur, Kotkhai, one of the largest apple belts in the state. The apple growers from Shilgrahan, Chopal N.S. Banchata rued that the pollen has been washed by the rains since April 1, damaging over 20 to 50 per cent of the bloom in Maroag-Shilgrahan-Shantha-Dewat apple belt. The chill, rains and drizzles have driven away the honeybees and other useful insects, which are essential for pollination, from the blooming or half bloom orchards, rued
Sant Ram and Chaman Lal, the farmers from Karsog-Churag subdivision “The temperatures have fallen below 10-5 °C for the past two days. The “chilly weather in the area where trees are in full bloom have marred the chances of a good crop”, they said. Though no reports of hails were received from the Kullu district, but the chilly and frosty weather have been prevailing the district where apple trees are in full bloom. The scientist in charge, Fruit Research station, Bajaura, Dr S.S. Bhardwaj said, “The rains wash the pollens and chill in weather hamper the activity of the honeybees and other insects essential for pollination that can effect the crop in the apple belt. But even if the temperature hits to sub-zero level, it may or may not damage the crop in general as it varies from place to place, orchards to orchards”. The westerly disturbances have triggered the inclement weather. “But orchards which have pollinisers ratio of 33-50 per cent can sustain adverse conditions in the lower belts. The ideal condition for a good crop is a temperature around 20°C and a clear sky. The apple bloom comes in three stages. If the first stage draws a blank chance is that the second or the third stage can lead to a good fruit set”, deputy director, horticulture, Dr Y.R. Sharma explained.
Sharma said the rains and hails have damaged over 20 per cent of the bloom in the apple belt of Chachiot, Karsog Churag and the Chail-Chowk area in the Mandi district. “We are assessing the damage from the fields”, he said. |
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Assess damage due to hail: Growers
Shimla, April 3 In a statement issued here today, the association said 90 per cent of the crop had been damaged due to the hailstorm in Kotkhai, Jubbal, Rohru, Chopal, Rampur and adjoining Kullu areas. “The economy of the farmers has been shattered as after putting so much of inputs they will not get anything in return,” said S.P. Katyal, general secretary of the association.
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CM brings smile back on their faces
Shimla, April 3 The 30-km ‘padyatra’ that these single women from all over the state embarked on was made even more difficult with the weather God not being too kind but their commitment to the cause and their belief that they would be heard actually made all the difference. “When we have done no wrong, there was no reason to doubt that the Chief Minister would not give us a patient hearing,” said a beaming 70-year-old Jamna Devi from Sidhpur in Kangra. The three-hour wait in the rain and biting cold outside the Assembly was worth it as the Chief Minister sprung a pleasant surprise by making announcements for free medical treatment and subsidised ration facility to all single women who were living on their own. “I apologise that I kept you waiting but due to the assembly proceedings it was unavoidable,” Dhumal said as he greeted them. He assured them that directions would be issued to panchayat pradhans to certify if a woman was living alone with no support so that she can have a ration card in her name. “We have already taken a decisions to dispose of all pending pension cases of widows and destitute women so that they are eligible for financial help,” he announced. Dhumal said he was aware that there were many problems being faced by single women but then addressing them would take some time and planning. “On the very first day after assuming power, we announced a hike of Rs 100 in social security pension,” he said. Accompanied by social justice and empowerment minister Shraveen Chaudhary he said they could approach her anytime with their problems. Keeping in mind the major demand of tribal women for being given property rights on the lines of the Hindu Succession Act, he said this could be done only by an amendment to the Act by the Centre. Earlier in the morning Shraveen Chaudhary too addressed the women at Hiranagar, assuring them all possible help. It was on April 1 that about 1,800 single women under the banner of the Ekal Naree Shakti Sangathan started their padyatra from Dhami. They sang and danced through the two nights at Ghannati and Hiranagar when forced to sit under leaking tents. Even while waiting outside the Vidhan Sabha their spirits were high as they sang and raised slogans in support of their demands. With their mission being accomplished to a great extent, these women returned home with a sense of achievement and hope that all promises would be implemented in letter and in spirit.
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70 pc jobs for Himachalis to be ensured
Shimla, April 3 Intervening in the debate on a resolution moved by Vipin Parmar and Virender Kanwar, he said the “job melas” organised at Mandi and Solan in collaboration with the industries turned out to be a failure as most of those recruited left the jobs after a few weeks. For instance, out of the 2,000 youth who were given employment in various industries at Mandi, over 1,800 quit within six weeks. He said the youth should stop looking for white-collared jobs and be prepared to work in industries. He said the situation was improving though the employment of Himachalis was still on the lower side. The government framed a policy reserving 50 per cent jobs for local people in 1995. The BJP government in 1999 increased the percentage to 65 and the subsequent Congress regime raised it to 70 per cent. Earlier, food and civil supplies minister Ramesh Dhwala said as per the workers identity card data, 1,47,580 persons were employed in industries out of which 98,503 were Himachalis. In all, 7.9 lakh unemployed were registered with various employment exchanges in the state, he added. The kind of skilled manpower required by the industries was not available as the previous Congress government had not set up enough institutes to impart training in technical trades, he added.
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No ban on cement plants
Shimla, April 3 Replying to the debate on a private member resolution by Randhir Sharma, urging the government to encourage environment friendly agro-based industries moved he said a right balance had to be struck between industrial development and environment as providing employment to the youth was equally important. The two cement plants already functioning in the state had indeed helped in employment generation and they were also bringing in the revenue. The annual revenue by way of VAT, road tax, electricity duty and royalty from the two plants in 2006-07 amounted to Rs 182 crore. The state’s own income was only about Rs 3,000 crore and there was a need to generate more resources to meet the annual expenditure of Moreover, sophisticated devices were now available for controlling pollution and by installing these almost zero emissions could be ensured form cement plants. As far as mining was concerned, the projects were required to obtain forest and environment clearance, which was granted taking all aspects into consideration and providing for a proper environment hangmen plan. He said polluting industries were already on the negative list, whereas, various incentives were already being provided to encourage agriculture and horticulture-based units in the state. Besides the industrial package granted by the centre, the state government was also extending various incentives to encourage such industries. A maize-based unit had already come at Una, which had a capacity to process 100 tonne per day. In case of vegetables, large quantities required for processing were not available. Earlier, moving the resolution Randhir Sharma drew the attention of the government to the traffic congestion and pollution being caused by trucks engaged in transportation of cement. He said the 48-km portion of national highway from Nauni to Gara Mora had become notorious for accidents and at times it took more than two hours to cover the distance due to heavy traffic. Instead of allowing cement plants the government should promote agro-based industries. Yog Raj and Renu Chaddha said lack of concern for environment was leading to climate change as was evident from the erratic and inadequate snowfall in the state over the past few years.
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NGOs flay Pranab’s statement
Tribune News Service
Dharamsala, April 3 At a press conference held here today, about 25 intellectuals and representatives of various NGOs, some of whom were faculty members of IITs and IIMs, said they condemned the statement made by minister of external affairs Pranab Mukherjee calling upon the Dalai Lama not to indulge in political activity. Pawan Kumar Gupta from Mussoorie said, “The views expressed by the minister do not represent the opinion of all Indians. Tibetans and the Dalai Lama have lived in forced exile in India for over 50 years. Our government’s decision to deny them the right to non-violent political activity amounts to violation of basic human rights.” Chittaranjan Kaul from Bangalore said citizens of India were with Tibetans in their cause. “The Tibetans are demanding autonomous region in China and right to protect their way of living. The Indian government is not representing the majority sentiment prevailing among its citizens on the issue. It is just displaying cowardice by bowing to the diktats from the Chinese government,” he added. Representatives of NGOs called for a nationwide dialogue to determine whether the Olympic torch should pass through India. They called upon those chosen to carry the torch to keep the repression being let loose by the Chinese government in mind. When asked if the NGOs or intellectuals would protest the carrying of Olympic torch through India, they said they had not chalked out any such programme so far.
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Cultivate herbs, CM to farmers
Bilaspur, April 3 Inaugurating six-day Yog Vigyan Shivir by yog guru Swami Ramdev here today, he thanked the baba for deciding to start an ayurvedic college in the state. He said government would extend all help to the project.He said this would help the government effort of encouraging health tourism in the state. He said the government was making efforts to motivate farmers to cultivate cash crops, flowers and herbs. Swami Ramdev said Himachal was blessed with immense natural wealth and Patanjali Yogpeeth would make all efforts to help state’s people in taking full advantage of the same. He appealed to the farmers to grow herbs in their wastelands so that land was gainfully utilised. He honoured Kargil war hero Havildar Sanjay Kumar of Bakain-Kalol village. Present on the occasion were forest minister J.P. Nadda, BJP MLAs Rikhi Ram Kondal and Randhir Sharma and thousands of people who had come to learn yoga. Local Yog Samiti general secretary Ashok Saini thanked Baba Ramdev for holding camp at Bilaspur.
Ramdev plans pharmacy
Shimla, April 3 |
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Vigilance confiscates school board record
Dharamsala, April 3 The sources available here said the confiscated office material pertained to the case of fake certificate of former minister Singhi Ram’s daughter. The vigilance officials have confiscated the typewriters on the apprehension that they were used in the education board office for preparing the fake certificate of the former minister’s daughter. The sources available here that the register in which the mark sheet in question was noted down has also been confiscated by the vigilance officials. The mark sheet according to entries in register was issued for destruction in the year 2005. However, it was allegedly used for making fake certificate of the former minister’s daughter. The vigilance officials have been camping here for the past few days. During their stay here, they have questioned the board officials and confiscated material related with the case. The sources further said, the board officials had informed the vigilance officials that the topper of 10 plus 2 batch in the year 2005 had scored 414 marks. However, as per the fake certificate of the former minister’s daughter, she scored more marks than the topper. The secretary of the education board admitted that the vigilance officials had confiscated the said material. He, however, refused to divulge further details. While the vigilance is collecting evidence to nail the former chairman of the education board and close confidant of the former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh B. R. Rahi, many local organisations have demanded stringent action in the matter.
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Dhumal, Virbhadra enter oral dual
Tribune News Service
Shimla, April 3 The matter came up when health minister Rajiv Bindal was replying to a question of Rikhi Ram Kaundal regarding vacancies of nurse and ward sister in three hospitals in the state capital. He said the number of vacancies was on the higher side as the previous government had created 519 posts of nurse in June, 2007, which were not filled. In fact, the Congress government filled only 40 posts of two categories during 2005-07. However, Virbhadra Singh pointed out that the present government had abolished these posts under its policy to review the decision taken by his government over the last five months of its tenure and wanted to know that under which clause of the Constitution the review was being undertaken. At this stage Dhumal intervened to put the blame on Virbhadra Singh who had after taking over as Chief Minister announced that all functional posts would be filled but no recruitment was actually made over the five-year period. Dhumal said the government was functioning within the constitutional framework whereas it was Virbhadra Singh who had been challenging the authority of constitutional bodies like the Central Election Commission. He also reminded Virbhadra that the Congress government had de-notified the colleges opened by the BJP government. Virbhadra Singh persisted with his query and wanted to know the clause under which decisions were being reviewed. He said the BJP was today reviewing decisions taken in the last five months of the previous Congress regime, and tomorrow some government could insist on reviewing the decisions taken over the five-year period and there would be no end. Dhumal cut him short and asserted that the government had the right to review the wrong decisions of the outgoing regime. He said the issue could be discussed separately if a notice was given under a relevant rule for the purpose. Earlier, Bindal said 64 of the 122 posts of ward sister and 439 of the 658 posts of nurse were vacant in IGMC and KNH hospitals. He said it was not possible to fill the posts promptly as it required three-and-a-half years to train nurses.
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PTA teachers protest in Mandi, Nahan
Mandi, April 3 They submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal through DC Onkar Sharma. President of their association Lalit Thakur said the Shanan report was biased and instead of removing the PTA teachers the government should frame a proper PTA policy. “We have taught in difficult areas where no regular teachers would go. We have served students and the state, thus we should be regularised,” he added. They were carrying placards and banners like “Shanan report is false”, “We need PTA policy” and “Take back Shanan report” etc. NAHAN: PTA teachers today took out a protest march in Nahan expressing fear of dismissal from the service by the state government. Around 200 protesters assembled at Katcha Tank and started a procession that went up to the DC’s office after passing through the main market. They raised anti-government slogans and demanded that the inquiry into PTA recruitments should be stopped and the Shanan panel report rejected. They also demanded the regularisation of their services. They submitted a memorandum addressed to Sirmaur DC. The PTA Union has prayed to Sonia Gandhi and other BJP and Congress leaders in Delhi to use their offices to pressurise the state government to accept their demands and stop inquiring into their recruitment.
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2 killed, 55 hurt in accident
Una, April 3 The truck was carrying about 150 persons from Uplan village, near Amritsar,
in Punjab. Those killed were Rajot Singh (35) and Pinku (16). The tragedy took place around 3.30 pm when the truck was moving from Pirnigaha shrine in Una district to Shahtalai in Hamirpur district. A mechanical failure in the vehicle is reported to be the cause of the accident. Taxi drivers from Thanakalan rushed to the spot and moved the injured to the PHC,
Thanakalan, and the Una district hospital. Those seriously injured and admitted to the Una district hospital were Aman Deep Neet Singh, Kulwant Singh, Anju, Bulter Singh, Paramjit Kaur,
Manha, Charanjit Singh, Gurdeep Singh, Harpreet, Balwinder Singh, Surjit Singh, Bhajjo Devi, Vikram Singh, Kuldeep Singh, Harinder Singh, Manpreet, Gurpreet, Manjit Kaur, Gurmit Kaur, Gurbachan Singh, Swaran Kaur and
Sona. DC Padam Singh Chauhan and Una CMO Vyom Bhardwaj rushed to the spot to monitor the rescue operations. Kutlehar MLA Virender Kanwar has expressed grief over the tragedy.
— UNI |
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State to take up issue with Centre
Tribune News Service
Shimla, April 3 He said he would take up the matter with the ministry for relaxation of norms for the state where such huge chunks of land were not available due to undulating terrain. The government had during its previous term managed to get the norms relaxed for the state under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna. In case the norms were not relaxed, it would not be possible to setup these institutions and it would tantamount to denying the state its due. Replying to the main question education minister I. D. Dhiman said the deputy commissioner of Kangra had been asked to locate a suitable piece of land for the university at two or three places. The committee set up by the ministry for the purpose would make the final selection.
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Power project operational
Kullu, April 3 N.K. Sharma, project manager, said the project was run-of-the-river project in which 1-km D-shaped tunnel was built. He said, “Water through the 1-m diameter tunnel and 330-m penstock reaches 229 m down to the two generators of 2.5 MW each.” The project would soon start generating power to its full capacity. Ravinder Sood, another director of the company, claimed that 90 per cent of the company’s employees were Himachalis. The financial support to the project was by the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency. |
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Snow, rain plummet mercury
Shimla, April 3 Several high-altitude areas, hilltops, passes and valleys in the tribal districts of Kinnuar, Lahaul-Spiti, Chamba and Kullu had been having a mild intermittent snowfall since last night. The Rohtang Pass, situated at 13,050 feet, had also been experiencing a mild, intermittent snowfall since last night. The temperatures in these districts have plummeted sharply during the past 24 hrs with Kalpa in Kinnuar district recording a low of 1.8 °C. Lower areas of the state, including Shimla, experienced light-to-moderate showers throughout the day following which the day temperature fell to 14.4 °C as against 19.6°C recorded yesterday. The minimum temperature in the state capital fell to 7.5 °C. The Met office said the state capital recorded .6 mm rainfall while Sundernagar recorded .7mm. The Met office has forecast rain and snow at many places in the state during the next 24 hours.
— UNI |
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Probe sought into bridge construction
Bilaspur, April 3 President of the sabha Ram Singh and general secretary Vijayendera Chandel said here today that some officers of the PWD had tried to mislead the BJP government by giving a wrong report to the Chief Minister that the construction of the bridge had already started and lakhs had been spent on it. However, not even a single brick had been added to the foundation stone laid by former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh at Talwar village on March 23 last year. They said earlier a delegation led by them had met the Dhunal at Shimla and submitted a memorandum demanding review of the bridge site. They had demanded that the bridge should be constructed from Berry Darolan to
Khairiyan. |
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Bail granted to Malhotra
Shimla, April 3 Malhotra, arrested by the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau, had been sent to judicial remand till April 11.He was arrested for alleged involvement in the forged certificate case. Meanwhile, former Congress minister Singhi Ram is still admitted to Indira Gandhi Medical College. Singhi Ram and former school board chairman B.R. Rahi have been remanded in police custody till April 5. |
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Protest by Tibetans
Kullu, April 3 Eight of them started a fast near the police post at Dhalpur. The chain fast would continue till April 8. Later, they organised a rally. They said that UN could be the best agency to solve the Tibet issue peacefully. |
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Power board employee electrocuted
Chamba, April 3 The body was handed over to next of kin of the deceased after a post-mortem. According to Pankaj Singh, senior XEN, Chamba division, the team was carrying out repair work on the transmission line after shutting down power supply. How the transmission line received electricity induction would be investigated, the XEN said. A case had been registered |
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3 killed in two mishaps
Chamba, April 3 A tractor overturned the road and fell into Siul, a tributary of the Ravi, near Rakhalu Mandir, about 40 km from here. The deceased had been identified as driver Taroo of Dhaneli village.
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New DPRO for Bilaspur
Bilaspur, April 3 Meanwhile, Rakesh Kapoor has joined as the assistant commissioner of deputy commissioner. Kapoor was earlier posted at Shimla as leave reserve assistant commissioner. |
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Shimla, April 3
